Title 31, FAMILY LAW AND JUVENILE LAW

Sec. 17. (a) A putative father whose consent to an adoption is implied under section 15 of this chapter is not entitled to establish paternity of the child, by affidavit or otherwise, in Indiana or any other jurisdiction. (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a putative father who …

Sec. 18. (a) This section does not apply to the consent of an agency or local office that is served with notice under IC 31-19-4.5 and has lawful custody of a child whose adoption is being sought. (b) The consent of a person who is served with notice under IC 31-19-4.5 to adoptio…

Sec. 19. A person whose consent to adoption is irrevocably implied under section 18 of this chapter may not contest the adoption or the validity of the person's implied consent to the adoption. As added by P.L.61-2003, SEC.14.

Sec. 2. (a) The consent to adoption may be executed or acknowledged at any time after the birth of the child, either in the presence of: (1) the court, in person or by video conferencing; (2) an attorney, in person or by video conferencing; (3) a notary public or other person aut…

Sec. 3. (a) A consent to adoption that does not name or otherwise identify a petitioner for adoption is valid if the consent to adoption contains a statement, by the person consenting to adoption, that the person consenting to adoption voluntarily executed the consent to adoption…

Sec. 4. The department may furnish to the clerks of courts prescribed forms for use by parents or other persons when giving consent to adoption. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-3-1-6(f).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.145-2006, SEC.252.

Sec. 5. Copies of a signed consent to adoption shall be filed with the investigating agency and the clerk of the court in which the petition for adoption is pending. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-3-1-6(g) part.] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11.

Sec. 6. The individual who or agency that arranges for the signing of a consent to adoption shall provide each birth parent whose consent to adoption is obtained under this chapter with the following: (1) An explanation concerning the following: (A) The availability of adoption h…

Sec. 7. Upon request, the state registrar shall provide an individual or agency with a contact preference form required by section 6(2) of this chapter. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-3-1-6(i).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.3-2016, SEC.6.

Sec. 8. (a) Consent to adoption, which may be required under section 1 of this chapter, is not required from any of the following: (1) A parent or parents if the child is adjudged to have been abandoned or deserted for at least six (6) months immediately preceding the date of the…

Sec. 9. A court shall determine that consent to adoption is not required from a parent if the: (1) parent is convicted of and incarcerated at the time of the filing of a petition for adoption for: (A) murder (IC 35-42-1-1); (B) causing suicide (IC 35-42-1-2); or (C) voluntary man…

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) "Licensed professional" means any of the following: (A) A physician licensed…

Sec. 2. (a) A licensee shall obtain from the placing agency or placing parent a statement indicating whether or not the child has, to the best of the agency's or parent's knowledge, been exposed to a communicable disease within twenty-one (21) days before the date of admission. (…

Sec. 3. (a) A licensee shall provide psychotropic medications to a child only as prescribed by a licensed professional in Indiana: (1) whose scope of work includes prescribing psychotropic medications; and (2) who has the responsibility for the diagnosis, treatment, and therapeut…

Sec. 1. This chapter applies to a county having a consolidated city. [1997 Recodification Citation: New.] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.14.

Sec. 1.5. As used in this chapter, "executive committee" means the executive committee elected under IC 33-33-49-14 (before its repeal) or under IC 33-33-49-14.1. As added by P.L.142-2007, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.76-2026, SEC.2.

Sec. 10. The executive committee shall annually prepare the detention center budget and forward the budget to the county fiscal officer in accordance with IC 36-3-6-4. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-9.5-6(e).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.142-2007, SEC.…

Sec. 11. All expenses for the operation of the juvenile detention center shall be paid out of the county general fund. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-9.5-6(f).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.14.

Sec. 2. The executive committee shall operate and maintain all juvenile detention centers located within the county. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-9.5-6(c).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.142-2007, SEC.2.

Sec. 3. (a) The juvenile detention center shall be operated in accordance with rules adopted by the department of correction. (b) The department of child services shall make an annual inspection of the center and report to the advisory board whether the center meets the requireme…

Sec. 4. The executive committee, after soliciting the views of the advisory board described in section 8 of this chapter, shall establish criteria for admission to the juvenile detention center. The power to order admission to the center remains with the court. [Pre-1997 Recodifi…

Sec. 5. The executive committee shall appoint a superintendent of juvenile detention centers located in the county. The superintendent serves at the pleasure of the executive committee. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-9.5-6(a).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.14. Amended by …

Sec. 6. Under the direction of the executive committee, the superintendent shall do the following: (1) Supervise the operations of the juvenile detention centers so as to provide sound physical care in compliance with state, county, and other health requirements. (2) Coordinate a…

Sec. 7. (a) The juvenile detention center advisory board shall: (1) review the operations of juvenile detention centers located within the county; and (2) advise the executive committee and the juvenile court judge on matters relating to the detention of juveniles in the county. …

Sec. 8. (a) The advisory board consists of the following seven (7) members: (1) Two (2) members, appointed by the executive committee, who are not members of the same political party. (2) Two (2) members, appointed by the mayor of the consolidated city, who are not members of the…

Sec. 9. (a) Terms of office for members of the advisory board are three (3) years. Terms of office begin on January 1 of the first year and end on December 31 of the third year. (b) Vacancies in the membership of the advisory board shall be filled in the same manner as original a…

Sec. 1. (a) Service may be made upon any person under Rule 4.1 of the Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure. (b) Personal service must be made at least three (3) days before the hearing to which the person is summoned. (c) Service by mail must be sent at least ten (10) days before the…

Sec. 2. (a) If any person other than the child cannot be served in accordance with Rule 4.1 of the Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure, the juvenile court may order service by publication in accordance with Rule 4.13 of the Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure. However, the summons must…

Sec. 1. (a) Through a written protocol or agreement, the department shall designate the public or private agencies primarily responsible for investigating reports involving a child who: (1) may be a victim of child abuse or neglect; and (2) is under the care of a public or privat…

Sec. 2. The protocol or agreement must describe the specific terms or conditions of the designation, including the following: (1) The manner in which reports of a child who may be a victim of child abuse or neglect and who is under the care of a public or private institution will…

Sec. 3. To fulfill the purposes of this chapter, the department may purchase the services of the public or private agency designated to investigate reports of child abuse or neglect. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-11-16(c).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.16. Amended by P.L…

Sec. 1. (a) The attorney for the department: (1) may request the juvenile court to authorize the filing of a petition alleging that a child is a child in need of services; and (2) shall represent the interests of the state at this proceeding and at all subsequent proceedings on t…

Sec. 2. The juvenile court shall do the following: (1) Consider the preliminary inquiry and the evidence of probable cause that is contained in the report of the preliminary inquiry or an affidavit of probable cause. (2) Authorize the filing of a petition if the court finds proba…

Sec. 3. A petition must: (1) be verified; (2) be entitled "In the Matter of ________, a Child Alleged to be a Child in Need of Services"; (3) be signed and filed by the person representing the interests of the state; and (4) contain the following information: (A) A citation to th…

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 or the child's parent, guardian, or custodian to the child's, parent's, guardian's, or cus…

Sec. 5. (a) If a petition is authorized, the person filing may request in writing that the child be taken into custody. (b) The person must support this request with sworn testimony or affidavit. The court may grant the request if the court makes written findings of fact upon the…

Sec. 6. If the juvenile court grants the request to have the child taken into custody, the court shall proceed under IC 31-34-5-1 and IC 31-34-5-2. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-10(f).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17.

Sec. 7. The: (1) child; (2) child's parents, guardian, or custodian; (3) department; and (4) guardian ad litem or court appointed special advocate; are parties to the proceedings described in the juvenile law and have all rights of parties under the Indiana Rules of Trial Procedu…

Sec. 8. (a) A person representing the interests of the state may file a motion to dismiss any petition that the person has filed under this chapter. (b) If a person files a motion to dismiss under subsection (a), the person must provide to the court a statement that sets forth th…

Sec. 1. After the preliminary inquiry and upon approval by the juvenile court, the intake officer may implement a program of informal adjustment if the officer has probable cause to believe that the child is a delinquent child. Results of a risk screening tool shall be used to in…

Sec. 2. The child and the child's parent, guardian, custodian, or attorney must consent to the program of informal adjustment. Before payment for services to the family may be paid, written consent must also be obtained from the department. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6…

Sec. 3. If: (1) the child is an alleged delinquent child; and (2) the child's parent, guardian, or custodian fails to participate in the program of informal adjustment; the probation department or the department may file a petition for compliance. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citatio…

Sec. 4. (a) Upon the filing of a petition for compliance and after notice and a hearing on the petition for compliance, the juvenile court may order the parent, guardian, or custodian of a child to participate in a program of informal adjustment implemented under section 1 of thi…

Sec. 7. A program of informal adjustment may not exceed six (6) months. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-12(f) part.] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.20. Amended by P.L.146-2008, SEC.632; P.L.101-2022, SEC.20.

Sec. 1. The following entities and agencies may exchange records of a child who is a child in need of services or has been determined to be a delinquent child under IC 31-37-1-2, if the information or records are not confidential under state or federal law: (1) A court. (2) A law…

Sec. 1. In applying and construing this uniform act, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it. As added by P.L.206-2015, SEC.53.