IC 31-19-7
    Chapter 7. Prior Approval of Placement of Child in ProposedAdoptive Home

IC 31-19-7-1
Prior written approval of placements; criminal history checks
    Sec. 1. (a) A child may not be placed in a proposed adoptive homewithout the prior written approval of a licensed child placing agencyor county office of family and children approved for that purpose bythe department.
    (b) Except as provided in subsection (d), before giving priorwritten approval for placement in a proposed adoptive home of achild, a licensed child placing agency or the department of childservices shall conduct a criminal history check (as defined inIC 31-9-2-22.5) concerning the proposed adoptive parent and anyother person who is currently residing in the proposed adoptivehome.
    (c) The prospective adoptive parent shall pay the fees and othercosts of the criminal history check required under this section.
    (d) A licensed child placing agency or the department of childservices is not required to conduct a criminal history check (asdefined in IC 31-9-2-22.5) if a prospective adoptive parent providesthe licensed child placing agency or county office of family andchildren with the results of a criminal history check conducted:
        (1) in accordance with IC 31-9-2-22.5; and
        (2) not more than one (1) year before the date on which thelicensed child placing agency or county office of family andchildren provides written approval for the placement.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.234-2005,SEC.93; P.L.145-2006, SEC.247; P.L.138-2007, SEC.37.

IC 31-19-7-2
Consent of county office of family and children
    Sec. 2. Whenever the written approval for placement of a child ina proposed adoptive home is obtained from a licensed child placingagency, the consent of the county office of family and children is notrequired unless the child is a ward of the county office of family andchildren.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11.

IC 31-19-7-3
Approval filed with adoption petition
    Sec. 3. Approval under this chapter for placement in a proposedadoptive home must be filed with the petition for adoption.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11.