1. (a) Whenever the court has heard the evidence and finds that:

   1. (1) the adoption requested is in the best interest of the child;
   2. (2) the petitioner or petitioners for adoption are of sufficient ability to rear the child and furnish suitable support and education;
   3. (3) the report of the investigation and recommendation under IC 31-19-8-5 has been filed;
   4. (4) the attorney or agency arranging an adoption has filed with the court an affidavit prepared by the Indiana department of health under IC 31-19-5-16 indicating whether a man is entitled to notice of the adoption because the man has registered with the putative father registry in accordance with IC 31-19-5 ;
   5. (5) proper notice arising under subdivision (4), if notice is necessary, of the adoption has been given;

   6. (6) the attorney or agency has filed with the court an affidavit prepared by the Indiana department of health under:

      1. (A) IC 31-19-6 indicating whether a record of a paternity determination; or

      2. (B) IC 16-37-2-2 (g) indicating whether a paternity affidavit executed under IC 16-37-2-2.1 ;

         has been filed in relation to the child;

   7. (7) proper consent, if consent is necessary, to the adoption has been given;
   8. (8) the petitioner for adoption is not prohibited from adopting the child as the result of an inappropriate criminal history described in subsection (c) or (d); and

   9. (9) the person, licensed child placing agency, or local office that has placed the child for adoption has provided the documents and other information required under IC 31-19-17 to the prospective adoptive parents;

      the court shall grant the petition for adoption and enter an adoption decree.

2. (b) A court may not grant an adoption unless the Indiana department of health's affidavit under IC 31-19-5-16 is filed with the court as provided under subsection (a)(4).

3. (c) A juvenile adjudication for an act listed in IC 31-9-2-84.8 that would be a felony if committed by an adult, a conviction of a misdemeanor related to the health and safety of a child, or a conviction of a felony not listed in IC 31-9-2-84.8 by a petitioner for adoption or household member is a permissible basis for the court to deny the petition for adoption. In addition, the court may not grant an adoption if a petitioner for adoption has been convicted of a nonwaivable offense under IC 31-9-2-84.8 . However, the court is not prohibited from granting an adoption based upon a felony conviction for:

   1. (1) a felony under IC 9-30-5 ;
   2. (2) battery ( IC 35-42-2-1 );
   3. (3) criminal recklessness ( IC 35-42-2-2 ) as a felony;
   4. (4) criminal confinement ( IC 35-42-3-3 );
   5. (5) arson ( IC 35-43-1-1 );
   6. (6) nonsupport of a dependent child ( IC 35-46-1-5 );
   7. (7) operating a motorboat while intoxicated ( IC 35-46-9-6 ) as a felony;
   8. (8) a felony involving a weapon under IC 35-47 ; or

   9. (9) a felony relating to controlled substances under IC 35-48-4 ;

      if the date of the conviction did not occur within the immediately preceding five (5) year period.

4. (d) A court may not grant an adoption if the petitioner is a sex or violent offender (as defined in IC 11-8-8-5 ) or a sexually violent predator (as defined in IC 35-38-1-7.5 ).

5. (e) In addition to this section, section 1.1 of this chapter applies when one (1) or more petitioners is a person with a disability.

   [Pre-1997 Recodification Citations: 31-3-1-8(a); 31-3-1.5-14(c).]

As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.257-1997(ss), SEC.38; P.L.200-1999, SEC.23; P.L.1-2002, SEC.126; P.L.123-2002, SEC.29; P.L.129-2005, SEC.3; P.L.140-2006, SEC.17 and P.L.173-2006, SEC.17; P.L.145-2006, SEC.253; P.L.1-2007, SEC.196; P.L.138-2007, SEC.44; P.L.216-2007, SEC.34; P.L.3-2008, SEC.238; P.L.21-2010, SEC.7; P.L.162-2011, SEC.16; P.L.128-2012, SEC.56; P.L.158-2013, SEC.311; P.L.243-2019, SEC.5; P.L.142-2020, SEC.38; P.L.146-2021, SEC.9; P.L.56-2023, SEC.282.