Colorado Temporary Guardianship Form JDF 751: Duration and Notarization

In Colorado, the temporary guardianship form JDF 751 — officially the Delegation of Power by Parent or Guardian — lets you authorize another adult to care for your child for up to 12 months without filing anything in court. You complete the one-page form, sign it in front of a notary, and hand copies to the caregiver and the people who need to see it. That’s the whole process.¹

What JDF 751 Actually Does

JDF 751 is a private power of attorney between you and someone you trust. No judge reviews it. No hearing happens. Nothing gets filed with a court clerk.² The person receiving authority is called the “attorney-in-fact” on the form. That’s legal shorthand for your designated caregiver, not an actual lawyer.

Because it’s a private agreement, the form only works when you, the parent, are cooperating and available to sign. It handles the straightforward case: you trust someone, you want them to step in for a defined period, and you put it in writing. Common uses include military deployment, extended travel, a parent’s medical treatment, or any stretch when a trusted adult needs legal standing to act for your child.

What You Need to Fill Out the Form

Download the current version of JDF 751 from the Colorado Judicial Branch website rather than a third-party template, since outside versions may be outdated or missing statute-tied language.³

The form asks for:

Full legal name and current address of the parent or guardian signing
Child’s full legal name, date of birth, and address
Full legal name and contact information for the attorney-in-fact
The scope of powers you’re delegating — either all caregiving authority or specific pieces, such as medical decisions only
A start date and an end date no later than 12 months from signing

You can tailor the scope to the situation. A grandparent watching your child over the summer probably doesn’t need property management authority. Someone caring for your child during a long hospitalization might need everything the form allows.

Notarization

A completed JDF 751 must be signed before a notary public. Without a notary seal, schools, hospitals, and other institutions are likely to reject it.³ Colorado caps notary fees at $15 per document for in-person notarization and $25 for electronic or remote notarization.⁴ Banks, UPS stores, and some libraries offer notary services, so this step is quick and cheap.

How Long It Lasts and What Stays With You

State law caps the delegation at 12 months from the date on the form. If you still need someone else caring for your child after that, you can sign a new JDF 751 for another 12-month period or petition the court for a formal guardianship.¹

The delegation does not change your legal status as the parent. You keep all parental rights. The attorney-in-fact cannot consent to your child’s marriage or adoption — those decisions stay with you regardless of what else the form authorizes.³

Revoking It Early

You don’t have to wait for the 12 months to expire. JDF 751 states that a parent or guardian may revoke the delegation at any time by putting the revocation in writing.³ Draft a simple written statement identifying yourself, the date of the original form, and your intent to revoke it. Send copies to the attorney-in-fact and to every institution that received the original: the child’s school, doctor’s office, and anyone else relying on it. Until those parties get notice, they may reasonably continue to honor the old document.

If the Other Parent Shares Rights

If you share parental rights with someone who isn’t signing, notify that parent. The statute authorizes “a parent” to delegate power, but the other parent keeps equal legal standing and could challenge the arrangement if left in the dark. Providing a copy heads off disputes about the child’s whereabouts and care. In genuinely contested situations, a court-ordered guardianship is the safer path because it requires formal notice to all interested parties.

Who Should Get Copies

Since JDF 751 never gets filed with a court, the original stays with you. Make several clean copies:

The attorney-in-fact, who needs it to prove authority at medical appointments, school meetings, and anywhere parental consent is required
The child’s school, so administrators can verify the caregiver can sign permission slips, attend conferences, and make enrollment decisions
Healthcare providers — pediatrician, dentist, hospital — so they can share medical records and authorize non-emergency treatment
The other parent, if applicable

Keep the original somewhere secure and accessible, like a fireproof safe or a locked file drawer. If the original is lost, distributed copies help, but a clean original eliminates doubt.

Emergencies Don’t Wait for the Form

Parents often worry about what happens if the child needs urgent care before the form reaches a hospital. Federal law under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act requires emergency departments to screen and stabilize any patient, including minors, regardless of whether a parent or guardian is present or reachable. The delegation form matters for routine and non-emergency care, not for true emergencies where the hospital is legally required to act.

When a Court Guardianship Is Required Instead

JDF 751 only handles cooperative, short-term situations. If a parent is unable or unwilling to sign the delegation, if both parents are deceased or have had their rights terminated, or if the child’s safety demands immediate intervention, you need a court-ordered guardianship rather than a delegation form. The court must find the appointment is in the child’s best interest and that a statutory condition is met, such as parental consent, terminated rights, or parents who are unwilling or unable to exercise their rights.⁵ That’s a different process with different forms, filing fees, and potentially a guardian ad litem appointed to represent the child.⁶ Whenever both parents are cooperative, JDF 751 is the faster, cheaper starting point.

Military Deployment

Deploying service members are among the most common users of JDF 751. All branches require service members with dependents to maintain a family care plan naming who will provide care during deployment, and the delegation form is the legal backbone of that plan. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act also protects deployed parents if the non-deploying parent tries to modify custody while the service member is away, including an automatic stay of court proceedings for at least 90 days upon written request. If your deployment will run longer than 12 months, plan ahead: arrange for a new JDF 751 to be executed on your behalf, or set up a court-ordered guardianship before the first delegation expires.

1
Justia Law. Colorado Code 15-14-105 – Delegation of Power by Parent or Guardian
2
Judicial Legal Help Center. Creating a Power of Attorney
3
Colorado Judicial Branch. JDF 751 – Delegation of Power by Parent or Guardian
4
Colorado Secretary of State. Notary Public Fees
5
Justia Law. Colorado Code 15-14-204 – Judicial Appointment of Guardian – Conditions and Limitations
6
Colorado Judicial Branch. Quick Guide to Appointment of a Guardian – Minor