1. (a) Except as provided in subsection (c), the parents must give their consent in open court unless the court makes findings of fact upon the record that:

   1. (1) the parents gave their consent in writing before a person authorized by law to take acknowledgments; and

   2. (2) the parents were:

      1. (A) advised in accordance with section 12 of this chapter; and
      2. (B) advised that if they choose to appear in open court, the only issue before the court is whether their consent was voluntary.

2. (b) If:

   1. (1) the court finds the conditions under subsection (a)(1) and (a)(2) have been met; and

   2. (2) a parent appears in open court;

      a court may consider only the issue of whether the parent's consent was voluntary.

3. (c) The consent of a parent to the termination of the parent-child relationship under this chapter is not required if:

   1. (1) consent to the termination of the parent-child relationship is implied under section 4.5 of this chapter, if the parent is the putative father;

   2. (2) the parent's consent to the adoption of the child would not be required under:

      1. (A) IC 31-19-9-8 ;
      2. (B) IC 31-19-9-9 ; or
      3. (C) IC 31-19-9-10 ;

   3. (3) the child's biological father denies paternity of the child before or after the birth of the child if the denial of paternity:

      1. (A) is in writing;
      2. (B) is signed by the child's father in the presence of a notary public; and

      3. (C) contains an acknowledgment that:

         1. (i) the denial of paternity is irrevocable; and
         2. (ii) the child's father will not receive notice of adoption or termination of parent-child relationship proceedings; or

   4. (4) the child's biological father consents to the termination of the parent-child relationship before the birth of the child if the consent:

      1. (A) is in writing;
      2. (B) is signed by the child's father in the presence of a notary public; and

      3. (C) contains an acknowledgment that:

         1. (i) the consent to the termination of the parent-child relationship is irrevocable; and

         2. (ii) the child's father will not receive notice of adoption or termination of parent-child relationship proceedings.

            A child's father who denies paternity of the child under subdivision (3) or consents to the termination of the parent-child relationship under subdivision (4) may not challenge or contest the child's adoption or termination of the parent-child relationship.

4. (d) A child's mother may not consent to the termination of the parent-child relationship before the birth of the child.

   [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-5-2(c) part.]

As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.18. Amended by P.L.200-1999, SEC.27; P.L.130-2005, SEC.12; P.L.146-2007, SEC.14; P.L.58-2009, SEC.31.