A Complete Guide to Indiana Adoption Laws

Choosing adoption is a positive, loving decision. It is one that requires strength, commitment, and – most of all – love. If you are considering an adoption plan for your baby, you are already acting as an incredible mother – putting their needs before your wants. If you are considering this path in Indiana, you may be researching Indiana adoption laws.

Adoption laws are quite complex and vary by state. It is important to learn about the adoption laws in Indiana before beginning the process. With the support of a reputable, trustworthy adoption agency that is licensed in Indiana, you can get the guidance and services you need – free of charge. You can also receive financial assistance thanks to Indiana adoption laws.

As you consider lovingly making an adoption plan for your baby, continue reading. In this short guide, we will highlight some of the most important adoption laws in Indiana and how they may impact your adoption process.

Consent

A birth mother must consent to her baby’s adoption for it to be recognized as legal. This consent, which relinquishes parental rights, must be given in writing before a court, notary, or licensed adoption professional. It may be given any time after the baby’s birth, but it is important to not rush this part of the process.

When it comes to adoption laws in Indiana, there is a revocation period of 30 days, but it is not automatic.  To reverse the decision, a birth mother must file a petition with the court, notify the prospective adoptive parents, and prove to the judge that revoking the adoption decision is in the baby’s best interest. The last part entails more than simply stating you have changed your mind. That is why Adoptions With Love urges birth mothers to take as much time as they need before signing consent papers. Once the consent to the adoption is entered into court, there is no longer the 30-day revocation period and the adoption is irrevocable.  You can take the time you need at the hospital, birthing center, or even at home to recover, rest, and consider your choice before signing consent forms. It is important to remember that it is never too late to place a baby for adoption.

Birth Fathers’ Rights

Birth fathers’ rights are complicated and typically vary based on the individual and relationship to the birth mother. Indiana adoption laws place an emphasis on whether birth parents were married at the time of a baby’s birth. This law was designed to consider the best interest of the baby being placed for adoption.

If the birth parents were not married at the time of the baby’s birth, but the birth father wishes to play a role in the adoption process, he must establish his paternity status. This can be accomplished by completing an affidavit at the hospital.

Indiana also uses a putative father registry. A putative father is someone who claims to be the birth father but has not established legal paternity status. For a birth father to be a part of the adoption process as a putative father, he must register with the Putative Father Registry of Indiana before the birth mother consents to the adoption.

If you have any questions regarding birth father rights, it is important to consult with your adoption agency. This professional can offer legal advice and guidance as needed and can answer questions more specific to your individual circumstances.

If the biological father wishes to consent to the adoption, he can sign legal papers allowing the adoption prior to or after the birth of the baby.

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Financial Assistance and Supportive Services

Under Indiana adoption laws, expectant/birth mothers may receive financial support while moving through the adoption process. This may include medical expenses, legal services, and other living expenses.

At Adoptions With Love, Indiana expectant/birth mothers planning adoption can depend on the following supportive services:

• Housing: We can cover a deposit and several months of rent, as needed.
• Other living expenses: We can help with expenses such as utilities, phone bills, food bills, and even maternity clothes.
• Medical coverage: We can help you find a midwife or doctor with whom you feel comfortable, and cover any uninsured medical bills related to pregnancy and birth.
• Legal assistance: Our team of Indiana adoption attorneys can help guide you through the adoption process, answering any questions you have along the way and ensuring your baby’s adoption is handled smoothly, safely, and legally.
• Adoption design support: Our dedicated staff can help you custom build an adoption plan that meets your needs and helps you to feel comfortable with – and confident in – your adoption decision. You can choose an open, semi-open, or closed adoption. The choices are all yours.
• Counseling services: Our compassionate team of counselors are available 24/7 before and up to a year after the adoption is complete.
• Ongoing support: Adoption is a life-long journey. We can help birth and adoptive families navigate their adoption plans long after the paperwork is filed.

Learn More About Adoption in Indiana

If you are interested in learning more about Indiana adoption laws, contact Adoptions With Love today. We can support you and guide you through the Indiana adoption process – free of any pressure, judgment, or criticism. We can offer you commitment-free information at any time so you can consider your options, empowered with the knowledge you need to make a thoughtful, informed decision. Call 800-722-7731, text (confidentially) 617-777-0072, or contact us online.