Colorado Revised Statutes

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-4-111 (2026)

Pretrial proceedings

✓ current as of July 2026

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(1) As soon as practicable after an action to declare the existence or nonexistence of the parent-child relationship has been brought, an informal hearing shall be held if it is determined by the court to be in the child's best interest. The court may order that the hearing be held before a magistrate. The public must be barred from the hearing if it is determined by the court to be in the best interest of any of the parties. A record of the proceeding or any portion thereof must be kept if any party requests or the court orders. Rules of evidence need not be observed. At the informal hearing, the judge or magistrate shall give a verbal advisement to the parties that a request for genetic tests must not prejudice the requesting party in matters concerning allocation of parental responsibilities pursuant to section 14-10-124 (1.5). The judge or magistrate shall further advise the parties that, if genetic tests are not obtained prior to the legal establishment of parentage and submitted into evidence prior to the entry of the final order establishing parentage, the genetic tests may not be allowed into evidence at a later date. The judge or magistrate shall further advise the parties that subsequent to an adjudication of parentage, upon motion, the court shall enter orders for allocation of parental responsibilities pursuant to section 14-10-124 (1.5); except that, in matters involving a nonresident party, the court shall first determine whether it has authority to issue an order allocating parental responsibilities pursuant to article 13 of title 14.

(2) Upon the refusal of any witness, including a party, to testify under oath or produce evidence, the court may order such witness to testify under oath and produce evidence concerning all relevant facts. If the refusal is upon the ground that such witness' testimony or evidence might tend to incriminate such witness, the court may grant such witness immunity from the use of the testimony or evidence the witness is required to produce to prove the commission of a criminal offense by the witness. The refusal of a witness who has been granted immunity to obey an order to testify or produce evidence is a civil contempt of the court.

(3) Testimony of a physician concerning the medical circumstances of the pregnancy and the condition and characteristics of the child upon birth is not privileged.

(4) Upon the filing of a petition under this article, any party may seek the issuance of a temporary protection order or injunction under the criteria set forth in section 14-10-108, C.R.S. Any party may further seek temporary orders as to the allocation of parental responsibilities, including allocation of decision-making responsibility and parenting time, and support once an order determining the existence of the parent and child relationship has been entered by the court. The filing of a motion for temporary orders shall not prevent a party or public agency from seeking other relief as may be provided by this article. Issues of temporary orders concerning the allocation of parental responsibilities, including decision-making responsibility and parenting time, and issues of support shall be determined in accordance with the criteria set forth in the "Uniform Dissolution of Marriage Act", article 10 of title 14, C.R.S. Any temporary protection order issued pursuant to this subsection (4) shall be on a standardized form prescribed by the judicial department, and a copy shall be provided to the protected person.

(5) At the time a protection order is requested pursuant to this section, the court shall inquire about, and the requesting party and such party's attorney shall have an independent duty to disclose, knowledge such party and such party's attorney may have concerning the existence of any prior protection orders of any court addressing in whole or in part the subject matter of the requested protection order.

(6) The duties of peace officers enforcing orders issued pursuant to this section shall be in accordance with section 18-6-803.5, C.R.S., and any rules adopted by the Colorado supreme court pursuant to said section.

Source: L. 87: Entire title R&RE, p. 796, § 1, effective October 1. L. 91: (1) amended, p. 363, § 35, effective April 9. L. 93: (2) amended, p. 1737, § 30, effective July 1. L. 94: (4) to

(6) added, p. 2016, § 11, effective January 1, 1995. L. 98: (4) amended, p. 1409, § 70, effective February 1, 1999. L. 2003: (4) and (5) amended, p.1016, § 26, effective July 1. L. 2005: (1) amended, p. 378, § 5, effective January 1, 2006. L. 2023: (1) amended, (SB 23-173), ch. 330, p. 1975, § 6, effective July 1.

Editor's note: This section was contained in a title that was repealed and reenacted in 1987. Provisions of this section, as it existed in 1987, are similar to those contained in 19-6-111 as said section existed in 1986, the year prior to the repeal and reenactment of this title.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 8 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1997–2026 · leading case: in Interest of M.B, 2020 COA 13 (Colo. Ct. App. 2020).

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in Interest of M.B, 2020 COA 13 (Colo. Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 5× “” § 19-4-111(1), C.R.S. 2019. Unsurprisingly, parentage disputes are usually resolved on that basis.”

People in Interest of SEG, 934 P.2d 920 (Colo. Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 3× “See §§ 19-4-111(4), 19-4-116(3), and 19-4-119(l)(b), C.”

In re the Marriage of Ohr, 97 P.3d 354 (Colo. Ct. App. 2004). · cites it 4× “” Section 19-4-111(4), C.R.S.2003 (emphasis added).”

N.A.H. v. S.L.S., 9 P.3d 354 (Colo. 2000). · cites it 3× “(1999) (stating that any party may demand a trial on the issue of paternity); § 19-4-114(8) (stating that a paternity action shall be set for trial if the parties refuse the judge's pretrial recommendation); § 19-4-111, 6 C.R.S. (1999) (outlining pretrial proceedings).”

in the Interest of G.C.M.M, 2020 COA 152 (Colo. Ct. App. 2020). “§§ 19-4-111(4), 19-4-116(3)(a), 19-4-130(1), C.”

In Re Aph, 98 P.3d 955 (Colo. Ct. App. 2004). · cites it 2× “2003, when she requested approval of the stipulation for paternity, custody, parenting time, and child support in lieu of appearing for an initial advisement at a pretrial proceeding under § 19-4-111, C.R.S.2003. The magistrate also concluded that the March 1999 order approving…”

Nah v. Sls, 9 P.3d 354 (Colo. 2000). · cites it 3× “(1999) (stating that any party may demand a trial on the issue of paternity); § 19-4-114(3) (stating that a paternity action shall be set for trial if the parties refuse the judge's pretrial recommendation); § 19-4-111, 6 C.R.S. (1999) (outlining pretrial proceedings).”

In Re The People of the State of Colorado v. Robert Joe Dilka, 2026 CO 12 (Colo. 2026). · cites it 3× “(2025) (requiring protection orders against juvenile criminal offenders and their parents akin to those imposed on adults under section 18-1-1001); section 19-4-111(4), C.R.S. (2025) (allowing parties to family law proceedings concerning parental rights and responsibilities to…”

— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-4-111(1) — 3 cases

in Interest of M.B, 2020 COA 13 (Colo. Ct. App. 2020). “” § 19-4-111(1), C.R.S. 2019. Unsurprisingly, parentage disputes are usually resolved on that basis.”

N.A.H. v. S.L.S., 9 P.3d 354 (Colo. 2000). “(1999) (stating that any party may demand a trial on the issue of paternity); § 19-4-114(8) (stating that a paternity action shall be set for trial if the parties refuse the judge's pretrial recommendation); § 19-4-111, 6 C.R.S. (1999) (outlining pretrial proceedings).”

Nah v. Sls, 9 P.3d 354 (Colo. 2000). “(1999) (stating that any party may demand a trial on the issue of paternity); § 19-4-114(3) (stating that a paternity action shall be set for trial if the parties refuse the judge's pretrial recommendation); § 19-4-111, 6 C.R.S. (1999) (outlining pretrial proceedings).”

— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-4-111(4) — 4 cases

People in Interest of SEG, 934 P.2d 920 (Colo. Ct. App. 1997). “See §§ 19-4-111(4), 19-4-116(3), and 19-4-119(l)(b), C.”

In re the Marriage of Ohr, 97 P.3d 354 (Colo. Ct. App. 2004). “” Section 19-4-111(4), C.R.S.2003 (emphasis added).”

in the Interest of G.C.M.M, 2020 COA 152 (Colo. Ct. App. 2020). “§§ 19-4-111(4), 19-4-116(3)(a), 19-4-130(1), C.”

In Re The People of the State of Colorado v. Robert Joe Dilka, 2026 CO 12 (Colo. 2026). “(2025) (requiring protection orders against juvenile criminal offenders and their parents akin to those imposed on adults under section 18-1-1001); section 19-4-111(4), C.R.S. (2025) (allowing parties to family law proceedings concerning parental rights and responsibilities to…”

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