Title 31, FAMILY LAW AND JUVENILE LAW

Sec. 3. (a) A governmental entity may not: (1) advise, direct, or coerce a child to withhold information from the child's parent; or (2) deny a child's parent access to information that: (A) is in the control of the governmental entity; (B) is requested by the child's parent; and…

Sec. 4. (a) Notwithstanding IC 34-13-3-3(a)(8), a parent may bring suit against a governmental entity for a violation of this chapter. (b) A parent may raise this chapter as a defense in a judicial or administrative proceeding brought against the parent by a governmental entity o…

Sec. 5. Relief against the governmental entity may include any of the following: (1) Declaratory relief. (2) Injunctive relief. (3) Compensatory damages. (4) Reasonable attorney's fees and costs. As added by P.L.101-2025, SEC.7.

Sec. 6. This chapter does not do any of the following: (1) Authorize a parent to: (A) commit child abuse or neglect as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-33(c); or (B) sue a judicial officer unless the judicial officer acts in clear absence of jurisdiction. (2) Prohibit a court from issuing …

Sec. 7. If a child does not have an affirmative right of access to a specific medical treatment, service, or procedure, then this chapter may not be construed to grant the parent a right to access that medical treatment, service, or procedure on behalf of the parent's child. As a…

Sec. 1. This article may be cited as the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act. As added by P.L.206-2015, SEC.53.

Sec. 2. In this article: (1) "Child" means an individual, whether over or under the age of majority, who is or is alleged to be owed a duty of support by the individual's parent or who is or is alleged to be the beneficiary of a support order directed to the parent. (2) "Child su…

Sec. 3. (a) The court is the tribunal of Indiana. (b) The Title IV-D agency (as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-244) is the support enforcement agency of Indiana. As added by P.L.206-2015, SEC.53. Amended by P.L.145-2026, SEC.165.

Sec. 4. (a) Remedies provided by this article are cumulative and do not affect the availability of remedies under other law or the recognition of a foreign support order on the basis of comity. (b) This article does not: (1) provide the exclusive method of establishing or enforci…

Sec. 5. (a) An Indiana tribunal shall apply this chapter and IC 31-18.5-2 through IC 31-18.5-6 and, as applicable, IC 31-18.5-7, to a support proceeding involving: (1) a foreign support order; (2) a foreign tribunal; or (3) an obligee, obligor, or child residing in a foreign coun…

Sec. 1. The following definitions apply throughout this chapter: (1) "Custodial interrogation" has the meaning set forth in Indiana Evidence Rule 617. (2) "Electronic recording" has the meaning set forth in Indiana Evidence Rule 617. (3) "Place of detention" has the meaning set f…

Sec. 2. A statement made during the custodial interrogation of a juvenile that is conducted at a place of detention is not admissible against the juvenile in a juvenile proceeding unless the interrogation complies with the requirements of Indiana Evidence Rule 617. As added by P.…

Sec. 3. (a) This section applies only to the custodial interrogation of a juvenile that is: (1) not conducted at a place of detention; and (2) conducted at a school or another place where a juvenile is detained in connection with the investigation. (b) A statement made during a c…

Sec. 4. A law enforcement agency shall retain a copy of a custodial interrogation of a juvenile recorded under this chapter: (1) if the juvenile is adjudicated a delinquent child for committing an act that would be a crime if committed by an adult, until the juvenile has exhauste…

Sec. 5. A custodial interrogation recorded under this chapter is confidential at the discretion of the court. As added by P.L.187-2015, SEC.27.

Sec. 6. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a statement that is made by a juvenile during a custodial interrogation is inadmissible against the juvenile in a criminal or juvenile proceeding, if: (1) the statement concerns an act: (A) that was allegedly committed by the juve…

Revisor's Note: P.L.145-2026 repealed IC 31-9-2 and relocated the chapter to IC 31-9-2.1, effective July 1, 2026. IC 31-9-2-84.8 was relocated to IC 31-9-2.1-168. Note: This version of section amended by P.L.158-2026, SEC.23, effective 7-1-2026. See also preceding repeal of this …

Sec. 1. It is the policy of this state and the purpose of this title to: (1) recognize the importance of family and children in our society, including the parenting rights of a parent, regardless of whether the parent has a disability; (2) recognize the responsibility of the stat…

Sec. 1.5. For purposes of IC 31-19, IC 31-28, IC 31-34, and IC 31-35, the department or a court shall consider ensuring the child's safety to be the most important consideration in the determination of a child's best interests under this title. As added by P.L.70-2024, SEC.2.

Sec. 2. For purposes of: (1) IC 31-33; (2) IC 31-34; and (3) IC 31-35; all decisions made by the department or the court shall be made in consideration of the best interests of the child or children concerned. As added by P.L.210-2019, SEC.2.

Sec. 3. The right of a person with a disability to parent the person's child may not be denied or restricted solely because the person has a disability. As added by P.L.146-2021, SEC.5.

Sec. 1. This chapter applies only to the following: (1) A judicial circuit in which there is located a consolidated city and the judges of the superior court and the judge of the circuit court determine that the social conditions in the county and the number of domestic relations…

Sec. 10. The judges described in section 1(1) of this chapter and the judge described in section 1(2) of this chapter shall establish uniform rules if applicable and may make special orders and rules as necessary. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-1-24-8 part.] As added by P.…

Sec. 11. The domestic relations counseling bureau may receive gifts and donations from private sources under approval of the judges or the judge to supplement the bureau's budget. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-1-24-9 part.] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.4.

Sec. 12. In a circuit or county that has a marriage counseling service paid for by private money and supervised by a court, the domestic relations counseling bureau may receive all records and property of the existing service and incorporate the records and property into the bure…

Sec. 2. For: (1) any judicial circuit in which there is located a consolidated city, the judges described in section 1(1) of this chapter may establish a bureau of the courts; and (2) a county having a population of more than four hundred thousand (400,000) and less than seven hu…

Sec. 3. A judge may order either or both parties in a domestic relations proceeding to: (1) report to the domestic relations bureau; (2) cooperate in counseling; and (3) furnish the counselor with pertinent information in a party's knowledge. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31…

Sec. 4. (a) A domestic relations counseling bureau shall provide counseling service to the parties in separation, dissolution, or annulment actions, including enforcement, modification, and post-decree proceedings that are: (1) filed in a court; and (2) referred to the bureau by …

Sec. 5. (a) The judges described in section 1(1) of this chapter and the judge described in section 1(2) of this chapter may appoint: (1) one (1) or more professionally qualified domestic relations referees, counselors, and other necessary personnel, including a full-time directo…

Sec. 6. The domestic relations counseling bureau shall perform the following duties in domestic relations cases and such other duties as the judges described in section 1(1) of this chapter, the judge described in section 1(2) of this chapter, or a magistrate assigns to the domes…

Sec. 7. The: (1) use of counseling service provided under this chapter; and (2) action taken that has been recommended by the domestic relations counselor; is not condonation on the part of either spouse of acts that may constitute grounds for divorce or dissolution of the marria…

Sec. 8. (a) All counseling: (1) proceedings; (2) interviews; and (3) conferences; shall be held in private. (b) All communications, verbal or written, and any record made as a result of the communications from the parties to the judge, the domestic relations counselor, or other p…

Sec. 9. The judges in carrying out this chapter must act by a majority of all their number. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-1-24-8 part.] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.4.

Sec. 1. (a) A person interested in establishing whether a child was born in wedlock may file a petition to maintain an action to determine whether the child was born in wedlock. The petition must: (1) be filed in the circuit or superior court of a county in which either of the pa…

Sec. 2. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a final determination made under section 1 of this chapter (or IC 31-7-8-3 before its repeal) is conclusive among the parties to the action and among persons who make claims under parties to the action. (b) A defendant who was les…

Sec. 3. A child of a common law marriage that was consummated before January 2, 1958, is considered to be a child of a valid marriage. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-7-8-6.] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.5.

Sec. 1. A man's paternity may only be established: (1) in an action under this article; or (2) by executing a paternity affidavit in accordance with IC 16-37-2-2.1. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-6.1-9(b) part.] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.6.

Sec. 1. Proceedings under this article must comply with the Indiana Rules of Civil Procedure. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-1-11.5-4(e) part.] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.7.

Sec. 10. Except as provided in sections 13 and 14 of this chapter, in an action for a dissolution of marriage under section 2 of this chapter, a final hearing shall be conducted not earlier than sixty (60) days after the filing of the petition. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: …

Sec. 11. If a petition has been filed in an action for legal separation under IC 31-15-3-2 (or IC 31-1-11.5-3(c) before its repeal), a final hearing on a petition or counter petition subsequently filed in an action for dissolution of marriage under section 2 of this chapter (or I…

Sec. 12. (a) This section applies if a party who filed an action for dissolution of marriage under section 2 of this chapter (or IC 31-1-11.5-3(a) before its repeal) files a motion to dismiss the action. (b) A party that files an action shall serve each other party to the action …

Sec. 13. At least sixty (60) days after a petition is filed in an action for dissolution of marriage under section 2 of this chapter, the court may enter a summary dissolution decree without holding a final hearing under this chapter if there have been filed with the court verifi…

Sec. 14. (a) The court may bifurcate the issues in an action for dissolution of marriage filed under section 2 of this chapter (or IC 31-1-11.5-3(a) before its repeal) to provide for a summary disposition of uncontested issues and a final hearing of contested issues. The court ma…

Sec. 15. (a) At the final hearing on a petition for dissolution of marriage the court shall consider evidence, including agreements and verified pleadings filed with the court. If the court finds that the material allegations of the petition are true, the court: (1) shall enter a…

Sec. 16. (a) The court shall enter a dissolution decree: (1) when the court has made the findings required by section 15 of this chapter; or (2) upon the filing of pleadings under section 13 of this chapter. The decree may include orders as provided for in this article. (b) A dis…

Sec. 17. (a) To promote the amicable settlements of disputes that have arisen or may arise between the parties to a marriage attendant upon the dissolution of their marriage, the parties may agree in writing to provisions for: (1) the maintenance of either of the parties; (2) the…