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Indiana's Adoption Laws
Indiana
Statute: §§ 31-33-17(5),(6);
31-33-18(1)-(3)
Records Confidential: Yes
Persons with access to records
• CPS/State Agencies
• Courts/Judges
• Grand Juries
• Law Enforcement
• Attorneys General/Prosecutors
• Attorneys, GAL's
• Physicians
• Researchers
• Employers
• Parents/Guardians
• Coroners
• Treatment Providers
• Subject of Reports
Persons without access to records
• Agencies From Other States
• Reporters of Abuse
• Review Teams
• Public/Any Person
Other Foster care review
boards State or local officials Community child protection teams
© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
The consent may be signed any time following the birth. This is usually done 24 hours following the birth of the child. Pre-consents are allowed in the state of Indiana. Revocation Time Frame in IndianaThe consent is irrevocable upon signing.
Indiana
Who May Adopt
Statute: §§ 31-19-2-2; 31-19-2-3; 31-19-2-4
• A resident
of Indiana may adopt.
• A
non-resident may adopt a hard to place child.
• Husband and
wife must petition jointly.
Who May Be Adopted
Statute: §§ 31-19-2-2; 31-19-2-1
• A child less
than age 18
• A person age
18 or older who consents to his adoption by a resident of Indiana
Who May Place a Child for Adoption
Statute: § 31-19-7-1
• A licensed
child-placing agency
• The Division
of Family and Children
© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
No information currently available.
Indiana
Birth Parent Expenses Allowed Statute: § 35-46-1-9(b)
-
• Reasonable attorney fees
-
• Hospital and medical costs
-
• Reasonable expenses for
counseling
-
• Travel expenses and maternity
clothes
-
• Living expenses, including
housing, utilities, and phone service, during the 2nd and 3rd trimester of
pregnancy, not to continue for more than 6 weeks after the child's birth
-
• Lost wages if leaving a job is
made necessary by medical complications of the pregnancy
-
• Any additional living expenses,
as approved by the court, but not in excess of $1,000
Birth Parent Expenses Not Allowed Statute: § 35-46-1-9(b), (c)
-
• Compensation for lost wages
shall be offset by living expenses paid and any unemployment compensation to
which mother is entitled.
-
• Total expenses paid shall not
exceed $3,000 unless approved by the court.
-
• Payment of living expenses
shall not extend beyond 6 weeks after the child's birth.
Allowable Payments for Arranging Adoption Statute: §
35-46-1-9
Reasonable charges
and fees levied by a licensed child placing agency or by a county office of
family and children are permitted.
Allowable Payments for Relinquishing Child Statute: §
35-46-1-9(a)
Except for
expenses allowed, it is unlawful to transfer or receive property for waiving
parental rights or consenting to adoption.
Allowable Fees Charged by Department/Agency Statute: §
31-19-2-8
The
petitioner for adoption must attach to the petition an adoption history fee of
$20 and a putative father registry fee of $50, payable to the Department of
Health.
Accounting of Expenses Required by Court Statute: §
35-46-1-9(c)
All fees and
expenses paid must be disclosed to the court supervising the adoption.
© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
No information currently available.
Indiana
Agency or Person Gathering Information
or Preparing Report Statute: § 31-19-23-1
- • Child placement agency
- • Division of Family and Child Services
Contents of Report About Person to be
Adopted Statute: §§ 31-19-2-7; 31-19-8-6
- • Health status and medical history including
neonatal, psychological, physiological, and medical care
- • Former environment and antecedents of the child
- • Possible barriers to the child's placement
including ethnic background, race, language, disabilities, or a member of a
sibling group
Contents of Report About Birth Parents
Statute: §§ 31-19-2-7; 31-19-17-2
- • Health status
- • Medical history
- • Medical, psychological, and educational records
Contents of Report About Adoptive
Parents Statute: §§ 31-19-8-6; 31-19-2-7.5
- • Suitability of the home
- • Financial conditions
- • Criminal background check
© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
If you are an adoption professional and have updated information for this portion of our site let us know by contacting us at 1-800-ADOPTION or e-mail us at editors@americanadoptions.com.
American Adoptions, Inc. provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.
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