Denver, CO asked in Family Law for Colorado

Q: If a 16 year old girl in Colorado wants to have a child will cps be called when she goes into the obgyn?

Can the obgyn call cps for a 16 year old girl wanting to have a child and being checked out to make sure she is healthy enough for one

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1 Lawyer Answer
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
Answered
  • Fort Collins, CO
  • Licensed in Colorado

A: It depends on the case. Doctors and nurses are required reporters for abuse, but the pregnancy of a minor is not necessarily abuse. CPS may not become involved. Usually, pregnancy from 15 years and younger will get a CPS visit. Even if CPS is called, a minor pregnancy is not a per se against the law or evidence of child neglect or sexual assault. If the father is not covered under the safe harbor provision of statutory rape (due to his age), the pregnancy may be an issue for the biological father (but not a legal issue for the mother). In other words, the pregnancy of a minor is not an automatic violation of any law, but the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy can give rise to a criminal violation.

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