CHAPTER 1.5. OTHER DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURTS

IC 31-12-1.5
    Chapter 1.5. Other Domestic Relations Courts

IC 31-12-1.5-1
Determination of necessity to establish court
    Sec. 1. (a) This chapter applies in a judicial circuit in which amajority of the judges of the circuit and superior courts determinethat:
        (1) the social conditions of the county; and
        (2) the number of domestic relations cases in the courts;
make the procedures described in IC 31-12-1 necessary for the fulland proper consideration of domestic relations cases.
    (b) The judges shall make the determination described insubsection (a) annually in January.
As added by P.L.80-2006, SEC.2.

IC 31-12-1.5-2
Designation of judges; sessions of court
    Sec. 2. If the judges of a judicial circuit make the determinationdescribed in section 1 of this chapter, the judges shall designate byjoint order one (1) or more of the judges in the judicial circuit to hearcases under this chapter. A judge designated under this section mayhold as many sessions each week as are necessary for the promptdisposition of the court's business.
As added by P.L.80-2006, SEC.2.

IC 31-12-1.5-3
Designation of court
    Sec. 3. A court exercising the jurisdiction described in section 2of this chapter may be designated as a domestic relations court.
As added by P.L.80-2006, SEC.2.

IC 31-12-1.5-4
Jurisdiction; supplemental powers
    Sec. 4. A court designated as a domestic relations court undersection 3 of this chapter has the jurisdiction and special powersdescribed in IC 31-12-1-4. A court designated as a domestic relationscourt under this chapter, IC 31-12-1, or IC 31-12-2 retainsjurisdiction to hear any type of case the court had jurisdiction to hearbefore the court was designated as a domestic relations court.
As added by P.L.80-2006, SEC.2.

IC 31-12-1.5-5
Absence or inability of judge to perform duties; appointment ofsubstitute
    Sec. 5. (a) If a judge appointed to act as judge of the domesticrelations court is:
        (1) on vacation;
        (2) absent; or
        (3) for any reason unable to perform the judge's duties;a majority of the judges of the superior and circuit courts mayappoint another of the judges to act as judge of the domestic relationscourt during that period.
    (b) A judge appointed under subsection (a) has all the powers andauthority of the regularly presiding judge of the domestic relationscourt.
As added by P.L.80-2006, SEC.2.

IC 31-12-1.5-6
Application of domestic relations courts provisions
    Sec. 6. IC 31-12-1-6 through IC 31-12-1-16 apply to a domesticrelations court established under this chapter.
As added by P.L.80-2006, SEC.2.

IC 31-12-1.5-7
Domestic relations counseling appointments
    Sec. 7. (a) The judges of the circuit and superior courts mayappoint:
        (1) a director of domestic relations counseling; or
        (2) at least one (1) counselor under this chapter or underIC 31-12-1.
    (b) A counselor described in subsection (a)(2) or the organizationled by the director described in subsection (a)(1) is designated as adomestic relations counseling bureau.
As added by P.L.80-2006, SEC.2.