A guardian may file for adoption of a ward in Indiana by filing a petition in probate court.
A guardian of a child in Indiana may petition for adoption by filing a petition for adoption with the clerk of court in the county probate court where the petitioner resides, or where the child resides. Upon completion of the petition and review by a court along with a home survey and three-month evaluation, the petition will be forwarded to a licensed adoption agency for processing.
Instructions
1. Draft your petition for adoption. You can obtain a blank copy of the petition form the county probate court's office of the clerk. According to Indiana Code Section 31-19-2-6, the petition must include full information about the child, the proposed new name for the child, an account of the child's possessions, and information on the child's current residence. The petition must be filed in triplicate. A medical report containing a report on the child's current health and medical history must be attached to the petition, or sent to the state registrar within 60 days of filing.
2. File the petition with the probate court, along with paying filing fees. There are substantial fees associated with the filing of an adoption petition that include $107 for the petition, $200 for the home study, and $70 toward the putative father registry pursuant to IC 31-19-2-8. (These fee amounts were as of 2011). Provide notice of the petition to the natural parents by special process server such as the county sheriff. The court will review the petition to determine whether the petition is complete and, upon approval, forward the petition to a licensed child placement agency for review and completion of a home study (a survey to make sure your home is adequate for the adoptive child).
3. Participate in a three-month placement of the child in your home. Once the placement period is over and the child adoption agency files a report with the court, participate in a hearing on your petition. If the court finds the adoption petition to be in the best interests of the child, it will grant the petition and forward a record of adoption to the Indiana Department of Health's Vital Statistics.
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