Indiana Statutes

§ 31-17-2-3 — Commencement of proceeding

Indiana § 31-17-2-3
JurisdictionIndiana
Art. 17FAMILY LAW: CUSTODY AND VISITATION
Ch. 2Actions for Child Custody and Modification of Child

This text of Indiana § 31-17-2-3 (Commencement of proceeding) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ind. Code § 31-17-2-3 (2026).

Text

(a)A child custody proceeding is commenced in the court by:
(1)a parent by filing a petition under IC 31-15-2-4, IC 31-15-3-4, or IC 31-16-2-3;
(2)a person other than a parent by filing a petition seeking a determination of custody of the child; or
(3)a child, by the child's next friend, if the child is the subject of a:
(A)child in need of services petition under IC 31-34; or
(B)termination petition under IC 31-35.
(b)As used in this section, "child's next friend" means:
(1)the department;
(2)the child's court appointed special advocate; or
(3)the child's guardian ad litem. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-1-11.5-20(a) part.]

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Related

Lighty v. Lighty
879 N.E.2d 637 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 2008)
27 case citations
In Re the Custody of M.B. B/N/F S.C. and D.C. v. S.B. and S.W.
51 N.E.3d 230 (Indiana Supreme Court, 2016)
16 case citations
In re the Paternity of C.B. and S.B. Gregory W. Brown v. Kara Davis
112 N.E.3d 746 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 2018)
7 case citations
Michael Hays and Caryn Hays v. Amanda Hockett
94 N.E.3d 300 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 2018)
4 case citations
J.S. v. J.D.
941 N.E.2d 1107 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 2011)
4 case citations
In the Matter of the Adoption of B.C.H., a Minor
7 N.E.3d 1000 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 2014)
4 case citations
J.R. and C.R. v. S.P. and D.P
(Indiana Court of Appeals, 2017)
J.R. v. S.P.
89 N.E.3d 438 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 2017)
Shane Adams v. Aubree Scaife (mem. dec.)
(Indiana Court of Appeals, 2019)
A.C. v. N.J.
(Indiana Court of Appeals, 2013)
In Re Marriage of JS and JD
941 N.E.2d 1107 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 2011)

Legislative History

As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.66-2023, SEC.1; P.L.9-2024, SEC.495.

Nearby Sections

15
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Bluebook (online)
Indiana § 31-17-2-3, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/statute/in/31-17-2-3.