While the news surrounding same-sex marriage isn’t as prevalent as it was just a few months ago, that doesn’t stop the fact that there are serious issues still plaguing same-sex couples in Colorado. One of these issues surrounds the instance of children who are being raised by same-sex couples. Some people might think that this isn’t a good thing, but many same-sex couples would disagree.
It is interesting to note that the traditional family dynamic is changing. In 2000, the U.S. Census noted that less than 24 percent of homes in the country had a wife, a husband and minor children. That fact alone has many people worried.
In the case of a same-sex couple with a child, tackling issues like second-parent adoption, names on a birth certificate and legal rights can cause issues. The laws surrounding those issues are changing rapidly, making it difficult to keep up with what is legal and what is acceptable at any given time.
Same-sex couples note that children are attached to the nonbiological parent in the home. In some cases, this causes issues if the couple splits up. Appeals courts in Colorado have recognized some forms of psychological parenthood or de facto parenthood in same-sex families. Those cases can have a profound effect on same-sex couples going through child custody issues.
Determining how to move forward with a same-sex child custody case or visitation case in Colorado means staying up-to-date on the current laws. Because this can prove difficult for most people, having someone on your side who knows these laws and how to apply them to your case can help you as you explore your options.
Source: American Civil Liberties Union, “Too High a Price: The Case Against Restricting Gay Parenting” Leslie Cooper and Paul Cates, accessed Jan. 30, 2015
