IC 31-19-11
    Chapter 11. Disposition of Petition for Adoption; AdoptionDecree

IC 31-19-11-1
Decree; affidavit; felony convictions
    Sec. 1. (a) Whenever the court has heard the evidence and findsthat:
        (1) the adoption requested is in the best interest of the child;
        (2) the petitioner or petitioners for adoption are of sufficientability to rear the child and furnish suitable support andeducation;
        (3) the report of the investigation and recommendation underIC 31-19-8-5 has been filed;
        (4) the attorney or agency arranging an adoption has filed withthe court an affidavit prepared by the state department of healthunder IC 31-19-5-16 indicating whether a man is entitled tonotice of the adoption because the man has registered with theputative father registry in accordance with IC 31-19-5;
        (5) proper notice arising under subdivision (4), if notice isnecessary, of the adoption has been given;
        (6) the attorney or agency has filed with the court an affidavitprepared by the state department of health under:
            (A) IC 31-19-6 indicating whether a record of a paternitydetermination; or
            (B) IC 16-37-2-2(g) indicating whether a paternity affidavitexecuted under IC 16-37-2-2.1;
        has been filed in relation to the child;
        (7) proper consent, if consent is necessary, to the adoption hasbeen given;
        (8) the petitioner for adoption is not prohibited from adoptingthe child as the result of an inappropriate criminal historydescribed in subsection (c) or (d); and
        (9) the person, licensed child placing agency, or county officeof family and children that has placed the child for adoption hasprovided the documents and other information required underIC 31-19-17 to the prospective adoptive parents;
the court shall grant the petition for adoption and enter an adoptiondecree.
    (b) A court may not grant an adoption unless the state departmentof health's affidavit under IC 31-19-5-16 is filed with the court asprovided under subsection (a)(4).
    (c) A conviction of a felony or a misdemeanor related to thehealth and safety of a child by a petitioner for adoption is apermissible basis for the court to deny the petition for adoption. Inaddition, the court may not grant an adoption if a petitioner foradoption has been convicted of any of the felonies, or convicted ofan attempt or conspiracy to commit any of the felonies, described asfollows:
        (1) Murder (IC 35-42-1-1).        (2) Causing suicide (IC 35-42-1-2).
        (3) Assisting suicide (IC 35-42-1-2.5).
        (4) Voluntary manslaughter (IC 35-42-1-3).
        (5) Reckless homicide (IC 35-42-1-5).
        (6) Battery as a felony (IC 35-42-2-1).
        (7) Domestic battery (IC 35-42-2-1.3).
        (8) Aggravated battery (IC 35-42-2-1.5).
        (9) Kidnapping (IC 35-42-3-2).
        (10) Criminal confinement (IC 35-42-3-3).
        (11) A felony sex offense under IC 35-42-4.
        (12) Carjacking (IC 35-42-5-2).
        (13) Arson (IC 35-43-1-1).
        (14) Incest (IC 35-46-1-3).
        (15) Neglect of a dependent (IC 35-46-1-4(a)(1) andIC 35-46-1-4(a)(2)).
        (16) Child selling (IC 35-46-1-4(d)).
        (17) A felony involving a weapon under IC 35-47 or IC 35-47.5.
        (18) A felony relating to controlled substances underIC 35-48-4.
        (19) An offense relating to material or a performance that isharmful to minors or obscene under IC 35-49-3.
        (20) A felony under the laws of another jurisdiction, includinga military court, that is substantially equivalent to any of theoffenses listed in subdivisions (1) through (19).
However, the court is not prohibited from granting an adoption basedupon a felony conviction under subdivision (6), (12), (13), (17), or(18), or its equivalent under subdivision (20), if the offense was notcommitted within the immediately preceding five (5) year period.
    (d) A court may not grant an adoption if the petitioner is a sex orviolent offender (as defined in IC 11-8-8-5) or a sexually violentpredator (as defined in IC 35-38-1-7.5).
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.257-1997(ss),SEC.38; P.L.200-1999, SEC.23; P.L.1-2002, SEC.126;P.L.123-2002, SEC.29; P.L.129-2005, SEC.3; P.L.140-2006, SEC.17and P.L.173-2006, SEC.17; P.L.145-2006, SEC.253; P.L.1-2007,SEC.196; P.L.138-2007, SEC.44; P.L.216-2007, SEC.34;P.L.3-2008, SEC.238; P.L.21-2010, SEC.7.

IC 31-19-11-2
Custody provision in decree
    Sec. 2. If the child is a ward of:
        (1) a guardian;
        (2) an agency; or
        (3) the department;
the court shall provide for the custody of the child in the adoptiondecree.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.146-2008,SEC.560.

IC 31-19-11-3 Request for financial assistance; determination of eligibility forfinancial assistance
    Sec. 3. (a) If the petition for adoption contained a request forfinancial assistance, the court shall refer the petitioner to thedepartment to complete and submit to the department the IndianaAdoption Program application for a determination of eligibility for:
        (1) adoption assistance under 42 U.S.C. 673, includingapplicable federal and state regulations; or
        (2) an adoption subsidy under IC 31-19-26.5.
    (b) The department shall determine the eligibility of the adoptivechild for financial assistance and the amount of assistance, if any,that will be provided.
    (c) The court may not order payment of:
        (1) adoption assistance under 42 U.S.C. 673; or
        (2) any adoption subsidy under IC 31-19-26.5.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.146-2008,SEC.561; P.L.131-2009, SEC.22.

IC 31-19-11-4
Names
    Sec. 4. If a new name is requested in a petition for adoption, uponthe entry of an adoption decree the child shall take the namerequested.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11.

IC 31-19-11-5
Dismissal of petition; gradual change of custody
    Sec. 5. (a) If the court dismisses a petition for adoption, the courtshall determine the person who should have custody of the child.
    (b) If the court determines that it is necessary to change the child'scustody to another person, regardless of the person's right toimmediate custody, the court may order a plan for a gradual changeof custody to ease the child's transition unless the gradual change ofcustody would:
        (1) endanger the child's physical health; or
        (2) significantly impair the child's emotional development.
    (c) The court may do the following:
        (1) Implement a change of custody under this section bygradually increasing the child's visitation with each person whois entitled to custody.
        (2) Order counseling for the child and the persons involved inthe change of custody so that a plan for the gradual change ofcustody may be developed and implemented.
        (3) Consult with the counselor who assists the persons indeveloping the plan to determine an order for the gradualchange of custody that meets the child's best interests.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11.

IC 31-19-11-6
Pendency of appeal    Sec. 6. The court may hear and grant a petition for adoption evenif an appeal of a decision regarding the termination of theparent-child relationship is pending.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11.