Commencement of proceeding
Ind. Code § 31-17-2-3
in effectSec. 3. (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.]
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.66-2023, SEC.1; P.L.9-2024, SEC.495.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/31Fetched: 10/17/2026