1. (a) The attorney general shall, upon notification by the superintendent of the home through the state health commissioner, bring suit in the name of the state of Indiana on behalf of the superintendent of the home against the estate of a person failing to make payments as required in this chapter.
2. (b) If a judgment is obtained under this section, the judgment constitutes a lien against that part of the estate of a person as described in the complaint.

3. (c) The attorney general may bring suit against the parent or parents or legal guardian of a child for failure to comply with the maintenance agreement established or for failure to make an agreement. Suit may be brought for the amount due the state for the maintenance charges of the child. The court may order the payment of amounts due for maintenance charges for a period of time as the circumstances require. The order may be entered against any or all of the defendants and may be based upon the proportionate ability of each defendant to contribute to the payment of amounts representing maintenance charges. Orders for the payment of money may be enforced by attachment as in contempt proceedings against the persons of the defendants, and in addition as other judgments at law, and costs may be adjudged against and apportioned among the defendants.

   [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-6.5-5-13.]

As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.16.