Title 31, FAMILY LAW AND JUVENILE LAW

Sec. 4. A marriage is void if either party to the marriage was mentally incompetent when the marriage was solemnized. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-7-6-4.] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.3.

Sec. 5. A marriage is void if the marriage is a common law marriage that was entered into after January 1, 1958. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-7-6-5.] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.3.

Sec. 6. A marriage is void if the parties to the marriage: (1) are residents of Indiana; (2) had their marriage solemnized in another state with the intent to: (A) evade IC 31-11-1-4, IC 31-11-4-4, or IC 31-11-4-11 (or IC 31-7-3-3 or IC 31-7-3-10 before their repeal); and (B) sub…

Sec. 1. The court may enter a finding that a man is the child's biological father without first holding a hearing on the matter if: (1) the mother and the alleged father in the paternity issue execute and file with the court a verified written stipulation; or (2) the parties have…

Sec. 2. If a man who is the alleged father in a paternity action under this article fails to appear for a hearing relating to the man's paternity, the court shall enter a default order against the man upon a showing that the man received notice of the hearing. [Pre-1997 Recodific…

Sec. 4. Upon the request of any party, the court shall grant a continuance of the final paternity hearing until after the child is born. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-6.1-7(a).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.6.

Sec. 1. The support of children and other dependents is governed by IC 31-16. [1997 Recodification Citation: New.] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.7.

Sec. 1. (a) Provisions of an order with respect to child support or an order for maintenance (ordered under IC 31-16-7-1 or IC 31-1-11.5-9(c) before their repeal) may be modified or revoked. (b) Except as provided in section 2 of this chapter, and subject to subsection (d), modif…

Sec. 2. The court shall modify a support order to require either parent or both parents to provide medical support for the child through the health insurance coverage if a Title IV-D agency, authorized under the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 651 through 669) and IC 31-25…

Sec. 3. The court may provide in a modification of a support order for the security, bond, or other guarantee that is satisfactory to the court to secure the obligation to make support payments. As added by P.L.171-2001, SEC.9.

Sec. 4. If: (1) a petition to modify a child support order based on incarceration of a party is filed; and (2) no party files an objection or request for a hearing within thirty (30) days after receiving notice; the court may modify the child support order, or approve a proposed …

Sec. 1. An adoption may be granted in Indiana only after: (1) the court has heard the evidence; and (2) except as provided in section 2(c) of this chapter, a period of supervision, as described in section 2 of this chapter, by: (A) a licensed child placing agency for a child who …

Sec. 2. (a) Except as provided in subsection (c), the period of supervision required by section 1 of this chapter may be before or after the filing of a petition for adoption, or both. (b) The length of the period of supervision is within the sole discretion of the court hearing …

Sec. 3. (a) The department shall annually compile a list of: (1) licensed child placing agencies; and (2) the local offices; that conduct the inspection and supervision required for adoption of a child by IC 31-19-7-1 and section 1 of this chapter. (b) The list of licensed child …

Sec. 4. To facilitate adoption proceedings, the department shall: (1) publish; (2) post on its web site; or (3) furnish to each public library organized under IC 36-12; a list of approved supervising agencies. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-3-1-4(c).] As added by P.L.1-199…

Sec. 5. (a) Except as provided in subsection (c), not more than sixty (60) days from the date of reference of a petition for adoption to each appropriate agency: (1) each licensed child placing agency, for a child who is not adjudicated to be a child in need of services; or (2) i…

Sec. 6. (a) The report required by section 5 of this chapter must, to the extent possible, include the following: (1) The former environment and antecedents of the child. (2) The fitness of the child for adoption. (3) The suitability of the proposed home for the child. (b) The re…

Sec. 7. The court shall summarily consider the report submitted under section 5 of this chapter. If the court finds that further investigation or further supervision is necessary, the court shall continue the case to a later date that the court considers advisable for final deter…

Sec. 8. The report and recommendation of the licensed child placing agency or local office are not binding on the court but are advisory only. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-3-1-4(g).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.138-2007, SEC.43; P.L.131-2009, SEC.21; P…

Sec. 9. As soon as possible after the provisions of IC 31-19-7-1 and this chapter have been satisfied, the court shall proceed to hear and determine the petition for adoption. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-3-1-5 part.] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11.

Sec. 1. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply: (1) "Caseworker" includes staff who perform casework, group work tasks, or planning of services for children and their families. (2) "Licensee" means a person who is licensed to operate one (1) or more of the …

Sec. 2. (a) A caseworker shall meet one (1) of the following requirements: (1) Have a bachelor's degree. (2) Have an associate's degree and at least two (2) years of human services job experience. (3) Completed thirty (30) college credit hours from an accredited institution and a…

Sec. 3. (a) A licensee shall establish and maintain an individual record for each staff member. (b) The record must include the following information before employment: (1) Application. (2) Name, address, and telephone number. (3) Name, address, and telephone number of the person…

Sec. 4. A licensee shall maintain the following information for each volunteer: (1) Name, address, and telephone number. (2) Name, address, and telephone number of the person to be notified in the event of an emergency. (3) Documentation of reference with an evaluation of the fol…

Sec. 1. This chapter does not apply to a shelter care facility operated by a governmental entity other than a juvenile court. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-9-5(e).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.14.

Sec. 2. A juvenile detention facility is a secure facility that: (1) is only used for the lawful custody and treatment of juveniles and meets state standards and licensing requirements as provided in department of correction administrative rule; or (2) is located on the same grou…

Sec. 3. (a) The juvenile court may establish juvenile detention and shelter care facilities for children, except as provided by IC 31-31-9. (b) The court may contract with other agencies to provide juvenile detention and shelter care facilities. (c) If the juvenile court operates…

Sec. 4. (a) This section applies to a county having a population of more than one hundred twelve thousand (112,000) and less than one hundred twenty thousand (120,000). (b) Notwithstanding section 3 of this chapter, the juvenile court shall operate a juvenile detention facility o…

Sec. 5. (a) Juvenile detention facilities shall be operated in accordance with rules adopted by the department of correction. (b) Shelter care facilities shall be operated in accordance with rules adopted by the department of child services under IC 31-27. [Pre-1997 Recodificatio…

Sec. 6. The judge may appoint an advisory committee to review the operations of each facility, except as provided by IC 31-31-9. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citations: 31-6-9-5(d); 31-6-9-5(f).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.14.

Sec. 1. Except as provided in section 2 of this chapter, a change of judge may be granted only for good cause shown by affidavit filed at least twenty-four (24) hours before the fact-finding hearing. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-7-9(a).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.15.…

Sec. 2. The judge who presided over the trial at which an individual was convicted of an offense listed in IC 31-35-3-4 may not be the judge who presides over the proceedings in an action filed under IC 31-35-3 with respect to that individual. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 3…

Sec. 1. (a) The department shall initiate an appropriately thorough child protection assessment of every report of known or suspected child abuse or neglect the department receives, whether in accordance with this article or otherwise, unless the report is screened out and referr…

Sec. 10. If the law enforcement agency participates in the child abuse or neglect assessment, the law enforcement agency shall forward all information, including copies of an assessment report under section 7 of this chapter, on an incident in which a child may be a victim of all…

Sec. 11. In all cases, the law enforcement agency shall release information on an incident in which a child may be a victim of alleged child abuse or neglect, whether obtained under this article or not, to the department. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-11-11(l).] As adde…

Sec. 12. Upon completion of an assessment, the department shall classify reports as substantiated or unsubstantiated. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-11-11(m).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.16. Amended by P.L.70-2004, SEC.13; P.L.234-2005, SEC.126; P.L.131-2009, SEC.50.

Sec. 13. Whenever a court finds that a child is a child in need of services on the basis of a child abuse or neglect report classified as substantiated under section 12 of this chapter, the department shall enter into the child protection index established under IC 31-33-26-2 ide…

Sec. 15. (a) If the department classifies an assessment as unsubstantiated, the department may provide information about community service programs that provide respite care, voluntary guardianship, or other support services for families in crisis to the parent or guardian of the…

Sec. 16. After an investigation by the department that a child is a child in need of services, but before petitioning the juvenile court for a dispositional decree or implementing a program of informal adjustment, the department may enter into a voluntary service referral agreeme…

Sec. 2. (a) Upon the receipt of each report under this chapter of known or suspected child abuse, the department shall contact the law enforcement agency in the appropriate jurisdiction. (b) The law enforcement agency, with the department, shall conduct an immediate onsite invest…

Sec. 3. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the department shall: (1) cause color photographs to be taken of the areas of trauma visible on a child who is subject to a report; and (2) if medically indicated, cause a radiological examination of the child to be performed. (b)…

Sec. 4. The law enforcement agency shall: (1) give telephone notice; and (2) immediately forward a copy; of reports made under this article that involve the death of a child to the appropriate prosecuting attorney. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-11-11(f) part.] As added …

Sec. 5. The department shall immediately forward a copy of all reports made under this article to the appropriate prosecuting attorney if the prosecuting attorney has made a prior request to the service in writing for the copies. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-11-11(f) p…

Sec. 6. The department shall promptly make a thorough assessment upon either the oral or written report. The primary purpose of the assessment is the protection of the child. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-11-11(g).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.16. Amended by P.L.234-200…

Sec. 7. (a) The department's assessment, to the extent that is reasonably possible, must include the following: (1) The nature, extent, and cause of the known or suspected child abuse or neglect. (2) The identity of the person allegedly responsible for the child abuse or neglect.…

Sec. 7.5. (a) If, during the assessment, a caseworker observes, or has reason to believe, that an animal is a victim of animal cruelty, abandonment, or neglect, the caseworker may make a report of the observed or suspected animal cruelty, abandonment, or neglect to: (1) the local…