§ 31-19-25-4.6 — Contact preference form; contents; identification; duration; changing preference

Indiana § 31-19-25-4.6

• Jurisdiction: Indiana
• Art. 19: FAMILY LAW: ADOPTION
• Ch. 25: Release of Identifying Information; Requests for

Text

6. (a) The state registrar shall prescribe a
contact preference form for birth parents. The form must include the
following:
(1) A component in which a birth parent is to indicate one (1) of
the following with regard to a person that requests identifying
information:
(A) That the birth parent welcomes the person to contact the
birth parent directly and authorizes the release of identifying
information.
(B) That the birth parent prefers that the birth parent be
contacted through an intermediary and does not authorize the
release of identifying information directly to the person.
(C) That the birth parent prefers that the person not contact the
birth parent directly or through an intermediary and does not
authorize the release of identifying information.
(D) That the birth parent:
(i) prefers that the person not contact the birth parent as
provided under clause (C); but
(ii) welcomes the state registrar to contact the birth parent to
request that the birth parent update the birth parent's medical
information.
(2) A component in which a birth parent who prefers to be
contacted through an intermediary as provided under subdivision
(1)(B) may designate a third party to act as the intermediary for
the birth parent.
(3) Provisions necessary for the state registrar to be able to
identify the adoption file of the adoptee to whom the form
pertains.
(4) A notice that the birth parent may change the birth parent's
indicated preference regarding contact by filing a new contact
preference form with the state registrar.
(5) A notice that an adoptee who does not know which court
entered the adoption decree regarding the adoptee may seek
assistance from the state registrar.
(b) The state registrar may accept a completed contact preference
form from a birth parent only if the birth parent provides to the state
registrar one (1) item of identification of the birth parent.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (f), a contact preference form
submitted by a birth parent to the state registrar does not lapse.
(d) If a birth parent has previously completed and submitted a
contact preference form, the state registrar shall replace the birth
parent's previous contact preference form with the birth parent's new
contact preference form.
(e) A birth parent may file a completed contact preference form with
the state registrar to change the birth parent's indicated preference
regarding contact as many times as the birth parent wishes.
(f) A contact preference form is no longer in effect if the birth
parent who filed the contact preference form is deceased, unless the
contact preference form specifically states that the contact preference
form remains in effect after the birth parent's death.

Legislative History

As added by P.L.3-2016, SEC.18.