Colorado Code § 19-3-503

Summons - issuance - contents - service
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(1) After a petition has been filed,
the court shall promptly issue a summons reciting briefly the substance of the petition. The
summons shall also contain a statement, when appropriate, that the termination of the parent-
child legal relationship is a possible remedy under the proceedings and shall set forth the
constitutional and legal rights of the child, his parents, guardian, or legal custodian, or any other
respondent or special respondent, including the right to have an attorney present at the hearing
on the petition.
(2) No summons shall issue to any respondent who appears voluntarily or who waives
service, but any such person shall be provided with a copy of the petition and summons upon
appearance or request.
(3) The summons shall require the person or persons having the physical custody of the
child to appear, and it may order the child to appear before the court at a time and place stated. If
the person or persons so summoned are not the parents or guardian of the child, then a summons
shall also be issued to the parents or guardian, or both, notifying them of the pendency of the
case and of the time and place set for hearing.
(4) The court on its own motion or on the motion of any party may join as a respondent
or special respondent or require the appearance of any person it deems necessary to the action
and authorize the issuance of a summons directed to such person. Any party to the action may
request the issuance of compulsory process by the court requiring the attendance of witnesses on
his own behalf or on behalf of the child.
(5) If it appears that the welfare of the child or of the public requires that the child be
taken into custody, the court may, by endorsement upon the summons, direct that the person
serving the summons take the child into custody at once.
(6) The court may authorize the payment of necessary travel expenses incurred by
persons summoned or otherwise required to appear, which payments shall not exceed the amount
allowed to witnesses for travel by the district court.
(7) Summonses shall be served personally, pursuant to the Colorado rules of civil
procedure. If personal service is used, it shall be sufficient to confer jurisdiction if service is
effected not less than two days before the time fixed in the summons for the appearance of the
person served; except that personal service shall be effected not less than five days prior to the
time set for a hearing concerning a dependent or neglected child.
(8) If the respondent required to be summoned under subsection (3) of this section
cannot be found within the state, the fact of the child's presence in the state shall confer
jurisdiction on the court as to any absent respondent if due notice has been given in the following
manner:
(a) When the residence of the person to be served outside the state is known, a copy of
the summons and petition shall be sent by certified mail with postage prepaid to such person at
his place of residence with a return receipt requested. Service of summons shall be deemed
complete within five days after return of the requested receipt.
(b) When the person to be served has no residence within Colorado and his place of
residence is not known or when he cannot be found within the state after due diligence, service
may be by publication pursuant to rule 4 (g) of the Colorado rules of civil procedure; except that
service may be by a single publication and must be completed not less than five days prior to the
time set for a hearing concerning a dependent or neglected child.

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