Title 31, FAMILY LAW AND JUVENILE LAW

Sec. 3. This chapter is supplemental to all other statutes relating to support payments. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-2-8-4.] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.8.

Sec. 1. (a) An: (1) adoptee who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age; or (2) adoptive parent of an adoptee who is less than twenty-one (21) years of age; may consent to the release of identifying information concerning the adoptee in a signed writing. (b) The consent describe…

Sec. 2. A consent made under this chapter (or IC 31-3-4-27 before its repeal) may be: (1) withdrawn; or (2) modified; in a signed writing. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-3-4-27(c).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11.

Sec. 3. A holder of information that receives a consent made under this chapter (or IC 31-3-4-27 before its repeal) may release identifying and nonidentifying information only in conformity with: (1) the last version of the consent filed with the holder; and (2) IC 31-19-24 throu…

Sec. 4. A consenting person may restrict the consent to the release of the information only after the consenting person's death. The holder of the information may release the information in conformity with the consent only if proof of the consenting person's death is submitted to…

Sec. 5. The state registrar may contact an adoptee or adoptive parent who submits a written consent under this chapter that is: (1) incompletely; or (2) inaccurately; executed to inform the adoptee or adoptive parent regarding the error in the execution of the consent form. [Pre-…

Sec. 6. The following persons shall provide for the storage and indexing of consents made under this chapter to carry out IC 31-19-24 through IC 31-19-25.5: (1) The state registrar. (2) The department. (3) County offices of family and children. (4) Licensed child placing agencies…

Sec. 7. The following persons shall send a copy of a consent for the release of identifying information and any signed writing that withdraws or modifies a consent for the release of identifying information received by the person to the state registrar: (1) The department. (2) A …

Sec. 0.1. The addition of section 7.7 of this chapter by P.L.217-2001 applies to all proceedings pending under IC 31-34 on July 1, 2001, and to all proceedings commenced under IC 31-34 after June 30, 2001. As added by P.L.220-2011, SEC.515.

Sec. 0.2. At a child's first periodic case review occurring after June 30, 1998, the local office is required to advise the child's parent, guardian, or custodian in writing that a petition to terminate the parent-child relationship must be filed with respect to the child after J…

Sec. 1. (a) At any time after the date of an original dispositional decree, the juvenile court may order the department to file a report on the progress made in implementing the decree. (b) The juvenile court shall order the department to file a report every three (3) months afte…

Sec. 10. (a) This section applies when a juvenile court reviews the implementation of a decree under this chapter or any other law concerning a child placed in a state licensed private or public health care facility, child care facility, or foster family home. (b) The juvenile co…

Sec. 11. (a) When the juvenile court finds that the objectives of the dispositional decree have been met, the court shall discharge the child and the child's parent, guardian, or custodian. (b) The objectives of the dispositional decree are not considered met solely because a cou…

Sec. 2. (a) The case of each child in need of services under the supervision of the department must be reviewed at least once every six (6) months, or more often, if ordered by the court. (b) The first of these periodic case reviews must occur: (1) at least six (6) months after t…

Sec. 3. Before a case review under section 2 of this chapter, the department shall prepare a report in accordance with IC 31-34-22 on the progress made in implementing the dispositional decree. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-19(d) part.] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17.…

Sec. 4. (a) Except as provided in subsection (f), at least seven (7) days before the periodic case review, including a case review that is a permanency hearing under section 7 of this chapter, the department shall provide notice of the review to each of the following: (1) The chi…

Sec. 4.5. A: (1) foster parent; (2) long term foster parent; (3) person who has been a foster parent; or (4) person who is an unlicensed kinship caregiver; may petition the court to request intervention as a party to a proceeding as set forth in IC 31-32-2.5. As added by P.L.133-…

Sec. 5. (a) Subject to subsection (c), the court shall determine: (1) whether the child's case plan, services, and placement meet the special needs and best interests of the child; (2) whether the department has made reasonable efforts to provide family services, unless a finding…

Sec. 5.5. (a) In determining the extent to which reasonable efforts to reunify or preserve a family are appropriate under this chapter, the child's health, welfare, and safety are of paramount concern. (b) Except as provided in section 5.6 of this chapter, the department shall ma…

Sec. 5.6. (a) Except as provided in subsection (c), a court may make a finding described in this section at any phase of a child in need of services proceeding. (b) Reasonable efforts to reunify a child with the child's parent, guardian, or custodian or preserve a child's family …

Sec. 5.7. (a) This section applies at any phase of a child in need of services proceeding whenever a court enters a finding that reasonable efforts to reunify or preserve a child's family are not required under section 5.6 of this chapter. (b) The department shall do the followin…

Sec. 5.8. (a) This section applies only if a court has approved a permanency plan for a child under section 7(b)(5) of this chapter. (b) If the continuation of reasonable efforts to preserve and reunify a child in need of services with the child's family is inconsistent with the …

Sec. 7. (a) The court shall hold a permanency hearing: (1) not more than thirty (30) days after a court finds that reasonable efforts to reunify or preserve a child's family are not required as described in section 5.6 of this chapter; (2) every twelve (12) months after: (A) the …

Sec. 7.3. (a) This section applies after: (1) a court approves a permanency plan for a child under which the only intended permanent or long term arrangement for care and custody of the child is placement of the child for adoption, if the child is not already in a pre-adoptive pl…

Note: This version of section amended by P.L.158-2026, SEC.29. See also preceding version of this section amended by P.L.145-2026, SEC.209. Sec. 7.5. (a) Except as provided in subsection (d), the juvenile court may not approve a permanency plan under subsection (c)(1)(C), (c)(1)(…

Sec. 7.6. (a) This section applies to an individual who: (1) is leaving foster care because the individual is eighteen (18) years of age or older; and (2) has been in foster care for at least six (6) months. (b) Before an individual described in subsection (a) leaves foster care,…

Sec. 7.7. (a) If the juvenile court approves a permanency plan under section 7 of this chapter that provides for the appointment of a guardian for a child, the juvenile court may appoint a guardian of the person and administer a guardianship for the child under IC 29-3. (b) If a …

Sec. 8. Before a hearing under section 7 of this chapter, the department shall prepare a report in accordance with IC 31-34-22 on the progress made in implementing the dispositional decree. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-19(d) part.] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17. Ame…

Sec. 1. (a) Before a hearing under IC 31-37-20-2 or IC 31-37-20-3, the probation department shall prepare a report on the progress made in implementing the dispositional decree, including the progress made in rehabilitating the child, preventing placement out-of-home, reuniting t…

Sec. 2. (a) Except as provided by subsection (b), a report prepared by the state: (1) for the juvenile court's review of the court's dispositional decree; or (2) for use at a periodic case review or hearing under IC 31-37-20-2 or IC 31-37-20-3; shall be made available to the chil…

Sec. 3. (a) Any report may be admitted into evidence to the extent that the report contains evidence of probative value even if the evidence would otherwise be excluded. (b) If a report contains information that should not be released to the child or the child's parent, guardian,…

Sec. 0.5. Except as provided in section 4 of this chapter, an individual who has or is seeking: (1) custody of a child; (2) parenting time with a child; or (3) grandparent's visitation under IC 31-17-5; shall at all times keep all other individuals who have or are seeking rights …

Sec. 1. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a relocating individual must file a notice of the intent to move with the clerk of the court that: (1) issued the custody order or parenting time order; or (2) if subdivision (1) does not apply, has jurisdiction over the legal pro…

Sec. 2. (a) If a party provides notice of relocation at an initial hearing to determine custody, the court may consider the factors set forth in this chapter in the court's initial custody determination. (b) The court may consider a proposed relocation of a child as a factor in d…

Sec. 3. Except as provided in section 4 of this chapter, an individual required to file a notice under section 1 of this chapter must: (1) file and serve the notice on each nonrelocating individual who is a party to the action in accordance with the Indiana Rules of Trial Procedu…

Sec. 4. If a court finds that disclosure of the information required under IC 31-14-13-10.2 or section 0.5 or 3 of this chapter creates a significant risk of substantial harm to the individual required to provide the disclosure or to the child, the court may order: (1) that the a…

Sec. 5. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a nonrelocating parent shall file a response not more than twenty (20) days after the day the nonrelocating parent is served notice from the relocating individual under section 3 of this chapter. The nonrelocating parent's respons…

Sec. 6. (a) If a nonrelocating parent files a motion under section 5(a)(3) of this chapter, the court, after notice and an opportunity to be heard or after compliance with Trial Rule 65(B), may grant a temporary order restraining the relocation of a child or order the child to be…

Sec. 1. (a) A person who knowingly fails to make a report required by IC 31-33-5-1 commits a Class B misdemeanor. (b) A person who knowingly fails to make a report required by IC 31-33-5-2 commits a Class B misdemeanor. This penalty is in addition to the penalty imposed by subsec…

Sec. 2. (a) An individual who knowingly requests, obtains, or seeks to obtain child abuse or neglect information under false pretenses commits a Class B misdemeanor. (b) A person who knowingly or intentionally: (1) falsifies child abuse or neglect information or records; or (2) o…

Sec. 3. (a) A person who intentionally communicates to: (1) a law enforcement agency; or (2) the department; a report of child abuse or neglect knowing the report to be false commits a Class A misdemeanor. However, the offense is a Level 6 felony if the person has a previous unre…

Sec. 4. A person who intentionally violates IC 31-33-26-17 commits a Class B misdemeanor. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-11-25(b).] As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.16. Amended by P.L.86-2018, SEC.219.

Sec. 5. A person who is accused of committing child abuse or neglect is entitled to access to a report relevant to an alleged false accusation filed under this article if a court finds that the report: (1) is unsubstantiated; and (2) was intentionally communicated to a law enforc…

Sec. 1. (a) Before a case review under IC 31-34-21-2 or hearing under IC 31-34-21-7, the department shall prepare a report on the progress made in implementing the dispositional decree, including the progress made in rehabilitating the child, preventing placement out-of-home, or …

Sec. 2. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a report prepared by the state: (1) for the juvenile court's review of the court's dispositional decree; or (2) prepared for use at a periodic case review under IC 31-34-21-2 or hearing under IC 31-34-21-7; shall be made available…

Sec. 3. (a) Any report may be admitted into evidence to the extent that the report contains evidence of probative value even if the evidence would otherwise be excluded. (b) If a report contains information that should not be released to the child or the child's parent, guardian,…