Title 31, FAMILY LAW AND JUVENILE LAW

Sec. 4. (a) An action to annul a voidable marriage under this chapter must be conducted in accordance with IC 31-15. (b) If a court has authorized a guardian to file an action to annul a marriage on behalf of an incapacitated person under IC 29-3-9-12.2, the guardian may file an …

Sec. 1. Upon finding that a man is the child's biological father, the court shall, in the initial determination, conduct a hearing to determine the issues of support, custody, and parenting time. Upon the request of any party or on the court's own motion, the court may order a pr…

Sec. 2. The probation officer may do the following: (1) Consult with any person who may have information about the child and the child's potential custodial arrangements. (2) Upon approval of the court, refer the child for professional diagnosis and evaluation. (3) Without consen…

Sec. 3. The court may make findings and orders without holding the hearing required by section 1 of this chapter if: (1) the mother and the alleged father execute and file with the court a verified written stipulation; or (2) the parties have filed a joint petition; resolving the…

Sec. 1. (a) The court periodically may order a party to pay a reasonable amount for the cost to the other party of maintaining or defending any proceeding under this article and for attorney's fees and mediation services, including amounts for legal services provided and costs in…

Sec. 2. Neither costs or attorney fees may be taxed against an agency, or the agency's agents, that is authorized to maintain proceedings under this article by Title IV-D of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 651 through 669) and IC 31-25-4-17. [Pre-1997 Recodification Ci…

Sec. 1. Upon entering an order under IC 31-16-6-1 or at any subsequent time, the court may order, upon the proper showing that a person other than the person awarded custody under IC 31-17-2-8 (or IC 31-1-11.5-21 before its repeal) should receive payments, that the clerk of the c…

Sec. 2. (a) If the clerk of the court or the state central collection unit is notified by the Title IV-D agency or the agency's designee that: (1) the child who is the beneficiary of a support order is receiving assistance under the: (A) federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Fam…

Sec. 3. (a) Any person or agency named in section 1 or 2 of this chapter is entitled to receive the child support payments from the clerk of the circuit court or the person obligated to make the payments. The payments shall be used solely for the benefit of the child entitled to …

Sec. 0.5. The party bearing the burden of proof in a proceeding under this chapter must prove the party's case by clear and convincing evidence. As added by P.L.130-2005, SEC.6.

Sec. 1. (a) Except as provided in subsection (c), only a person entitled to notice of adoption under IC 31-19-4 or IC 31-19-4.5 may contest an adoption. (b) A person contesting an adoption must file a motion to contest the adoption in writing with the court in which the petition …

Sec. 1.2. (a) If a petition for adoption alleges that a parent's consent to adoption is unnecessary under: (1) IC 31-19-9-8(a)(1); or (2) IC 31-19-9-8(a)(2); and the parent files a motion to contest the adoption under section 1 of this chapter, a petitioner for adoption has the b…

Sec. 1.4. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a court, in making a determination under section 1.2(e) of this chapter, shall consider all relevant evidence, but may not base its determination solely on a finding that a: (1) petitioner for adoption would be a better parent f…

Sec. 2. A person seeking to withdraw consent to an adoption under section 3 of this chapter or contesting an adoption must give notice of intent to withdraw consent to or contest the adoption to the following persons: (1) All parties to the adoption. (2) A person whose consent to…

Sec. 3. (a) A consent to adoption may be withdrawn not later than fifteen (15) days after consent to adoption is signed if: (1) the court finds, after notice and opportunity to be heard afforded to the petitioner for adoption, that the person seeking the withdrawal is acting in t…

Sec. 4. A consent to adoption may be withdrawn only as provided in this chapter and may not be withdrawn after the entry of the adoption decree. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-3-1-6(j) part.] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.58-2009, SEC.23.

Sec. 4.5. A person who is served with notice under IC 31-19-4 or IC 31-19-4.5 and wishes to contest the adoption must do so in accordance with this chapter. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-3-1-6.1(l).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.197-1997, SEC.21; P.L.61-…

Sec. 5. (a) Whenever a motion to contest an adoption is filed, the court shall, before entering a decree under IC 31-19-11, set the matter for a hearing to contest the adoption. (b) A court shall expedite a hearing under this section. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-3-1-6.3…

Sec. 6. After setting the matter for a hearing under section 5 of this chapter, the court: (1) may dismiss the petition to contest the adoption under IC 31-19-10-1.2(g) or on other procedural grounds; or (2) shall, after hearing evidence at the hearing: (A) dismiss the petition f…

Sec. 7. (a) The court may: (1) send all notices of the filing of a motion to contest an adoption; (2) conduct bifurcated hearings under this chapter; and (3) issue an order protecting the anonymity of a petitioner for adoption. (b) An order issued under subsection (a)(3) may incl…

Sec. 8. A putative father is barred from establishing paternity of a child, by affidavit or otherwise, in Indiana or any other jurisdiction if his motion to contest the adoption has been denied under this chapter. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-3-1-6.3(e).] As added by P.L…

Sec. 1. The probation department for the juvenile court shall maintain information relating to delinquent children and children in need of services who receive juvenile law services. As added by P.L.55-1997, SEC.13.

Sec. 2. (a) Each probation department shall, not later than October 1 of each year, file a report with the office of judicial administration that includes the information the probation department is required to maintain under section 1 of this chapter. (b) The report under subsec…

Sec. 1. In cases in which a child is alleged to be a delinquent child, the law of discovery for criminal cases applies. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-7-11(a).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.15.

Sec. 2. In cases in which an adult is charged with a crime, the law of discovery for criminal cases applies. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-7-11(b).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.15.

Sec. 3. In cases other than those described by section 1 or 2 of this chapter, the law of discovery for civil cases applies. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-7-11(c).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.15.

Sec. 1. (a) A person who: (1) is required to report cases of known or suspected child abuse or neglect; and (2) is also a health care provider or a person in charge of a hospital or similar medical institution treating the child; shall cause photographs to be taken of the areas o…

Sec. 2. The department shall reimburse the reasonable cost of photographs, x-rays, or physical medical examinations made under this chapter. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-11-6(b).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.16. Amended by P.L.234-2005, SEC.131.

Sec. 3. All photographs taken and a summary of x-rays and other medical care shall be sent to the department and, upon request, to a law enforcement agency that investigates the alleged child abuse or neglect, at the time the written report is sent or as soon thereafter as possib…

Sec. 1. This chapter applies only to a child alleged to be a child in need of services. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-13.6(a).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17.

Sec. 2. (a) The juvenile court shall hold an initial hearing on each petition within ten (10) days after the filing of the petition. (b) The juvenile court shall set a time for the initial hearing. A summons shall be issued for the following: (1) The child. (2) The child's parent…

Sec. 3. Before complying with the other requirements of this chapter, the juvenile court shall first determine whether the following conditions make it appropriate to appoint a guardian ad litem or a court appointed special advocate, or both, for the child: (1) If the child is al…

Sec. 4. The court shall next inform the child, if the child is at an age of understanding, and the child's parent, guardian, or custodian, if the person is present, of the following: (1) The nature of the allegations in the petition. (2) The dispositional alternatives available t…

Sec. 5. The juvenile court shall inform the parent or guardian of the estate that if the child is adjudicated a child in need of services: (1) the parent, guardian, or custodian of the child may be required to participate in a program of care, treatment, or rehabilitation for the…

Sec. 6. Except if a petition is filed under IC 31-34-1-6 or IC 31-34-1-3.5, the juvenile court shall determine whether the parent, guardian, or custodian admits or denies the allegations of the petition. A failure to respond constitutes a denial. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation…

Sec. 7. If a petition alleges that the child is a child in need of services under IC 31-34-1-6 or IC 31-34-1-3.5, the juvenile court shall determine whether the child admits or denies the allegations. A failure to respond constitutes a denial. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 3…

Sec. 8. If the parent, guardian, or custodian admits the allegations under section 6 of this chapter, the juvenile court shall do the following: (1) Enter judgment accordingly. (2) Schedule a dispositional hearing. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-13.6(h).] As added by P…

Sec. 9. (a) If the allegations of a petition have been admitted, the juvenile court may hold a dispositional hearing immediately after the initial hearing. (b) If the allegations have been denied, the juvenile court may hold the factfinding hearing immediately after the initial h…

Sec. 1. The prosecuting attorney may file a petition alleging that a child is a delinquent child. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-9(a).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.20. Amended by P.L.146-2008, SEC.633.

Sec. 2. The juvenile court shall do the following: (1) Consider the preliminary inquiry and the evidence of probable cause. (2) Approve the filing of a petition if there is probable cause to believe that: (A) the child is a delinquent child; and (B) it is in the best interests of…

Sec. 3. A petition must: (1) be verified; (2) be entitled "In the Matter of __________, a Child Alleged to be a Delinquent Child"; and (3) contain the following information: (A) A citation to the provision of the juvenile law that gives the juvenile court jurisdiction in the proc…

Sec. 4. Error in a citation or the omission of a citation is ground for: (1) dismissal of the petition; or (2) reversal of the adjudication; only if the error or omission misleads the child to the child's prejudice. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-9(d).] As added by P.L…

Sec. 5. (a) If the filing of a petition is approved by the court under section 2 of this chapter, the prosecuting attorney may request in writing that the child be taken into custody. The person must support this request with sworn testimony or affidavit. (b) The court may grant …

Sec. 6. If the juvenile court grants the request to have the child taken into custody, the court shall proceed in accordance with IC 31-37-6. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-9(f).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.20.

Sec. 7. The: (1) child; (2) child's parent, guardian, or custodian; and (3) prosecuting attorney; are parties to the proceedings described in the juvenile law and have all rights of parties provided under the Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31…

Sec. 8. Upon motion by the person representing the interests of the state, the juvenile court shall dismiss any petition the person has filed. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-11.] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.20.