Section 31-19-9-8 - Consent to adoption not required; written denial of paternity precludes challenge to adoption(a) Consent to adoption, which may be required under section 1 of this chapter, is not required from any of the following:(1) A parent or parents if the child is adjudged to have been abandoned or deserted for at least six (6) months immediately preceding the date of the filing of the petition for adoption.(2) A parent of a child in the custody of another person if for a period of at least one (1) year the parent:(A) fails without justifiable cause to communicate significantly with the child when able to do so; or(B) knowingly fails to provide for the care and support of the child when able to do so as required by law or judicial decree.(3) The biological father of a child born out of wedlock whose paternity has not been established:(A) by a court proceeding other than the adoption proceeding; or(B) by executing a paternity affidavit under IC 16-37-2-2.1.(4) The biological father of a child born out of wedlock who was conceived as a result of:(A) a rape for which the father was convicted under IC 35-42-4-1;(B) child molesting (IC 35-42-4-3);(C) sexual misconduct with a minor (IC 35-42-4-9); or(D) incest (IC 35-46-1-3).(5) The putative father of a child born out of wedlock if the putative father's consent to adoption is irrevocably implied under section 15 of this chapter.(6) The biological father of a child born out of wedlock if the:(A) father's paternity is established after the filing of a petition for adoption in a court proceeding or by executing a paternity affidavit under IC 16-37-2-2.1; and(B) father is required to but does not register with the putative father registry established by IC 31-19-5 within the period required by IC 31-19-5-12.(7) A parent who has relinquished the parent's right to consent to adoption as provided in this chapter.(8) A parent after the parent-child relationship has been terminated under IC 31-35 (or IC 31-6-5 before its repeal).(9) A parent judicially declared incompetent or mentally defective if the court dispenses with the parent's consent to adoption.(10) A legal guardian or lawful custodian of the person to be adopted who has failed to consent to the adoption for reasons found by the court not to be in the best interests of the child.(11) A parent if:(A) a petitioner for adoption proves by clear and convincing evidence that the parent is unfit to be a parent; and(B) the best interests of the child sought to be adopted would be served if the court dispensed with the parent's consent.(12) A child's biological father who denies paternity of the child before or after the birth of the child if the denial of paternity:(B) is signed by the child's father in the presence of a notary public; and(C) contains an acknowledgment that: (i) the denial of paternity is irrevocable; and(ii) the child's father will not receive notice of adoption proceedings. A child's father who denies paternity of the child under this subdivision may not challenge or contest the child's adoption.
(b) If a parent has made only token efforts to support or to communicate with the child the court may declare the child abandoned by the parent.Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-3-1-6(k).
Amended by P.L. 89-2023,SEC. 4, eff. 7/1/2023.Amended by P.L. 142-2020,SEC. 35, eff. 7/1/2020.Amended by P.L. 113-2017,SEC. 5, eff. 7/1/2017.As added by P.L. 1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L. 197-1997, SEC.18; P.L. 61-2003, SEC.11; P.L. 130-2005, SEC.5.