Ind. Code ch. 31-32-2.5

Ind. Code ch. 31-32-2.5
in effect

Ind. Code § 31-32-2.5-1 Petition to request intervention

Sec. 1. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) and subject to this chapter, an individual who is providing care and supervision of a child as: (1) a foster parent; (2) a long term foster parent; or (3) an unlicensed kinship caregiver; at the time the child is the subject of a child in need of services proceeding under IC 31-34 or a termination of parent-child relationship proceeding under IC 31-35 may intervene as a party during any stage of the proceeding if the individual files a petition to intervene with the court and the court makes the findings described in section 3 of this chapter. (b) Any person described in subsection (a) who has been: (1) the subject of a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect; or (2) convicted of a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-168; may not intervene under this chapter. As added by P.L.210-2019, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.68-2022, SEC.3; P.L.46-2024, SEC.16; P.L.179-2025, SEC.9; P.L.145-2026, SEC.193.

Ind. Code § 31-32-2.5-2 Hearing

Sec. 2. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) or (c), a court may grant or deny a petition filed under this chapter with or without a hearing on the petition. (b) This subsection applies to a child in need of services proceeding. If the petitioner to intervene under this chapter is a long term foster parent and: (1) a petition to terminate the parent-child relationship has been filed under IC 31-35-2-4; (2) the petitioner has filed a petition to adopt the child under IC 31-19-2-2; or (3) the court ordered permanency plan for the child is no longer reunification; the court shall hold a hearing on a petition to intervene under this chapter before a court may grant or deny a petition under this chapter. (c) This subsection applies to a termination of parent-child relationship proceeding. If the petitioner to intervene under this chapter is a long term foster parent, the court shall hold a hearing on a petition to intervene under this chapter before a court may grant or deny a petition under this chapter. As added by P.L.210-2019, SEC.7.

Ind. Code § 31-32-2.5-3 Determination on petition to intervene

Sec. 3. (a) A court shall grant a petition to intervene filed under this chapter if the court determines that intervention by the petitioner is in the best interests of the child. (b) A court shall grant a petition filed under this chapter requesting intervention in a child in need of services proceeding under IC 31-34 concerning a child for whom the petitioner is providing care and supervision if the court determines that: (1) the petitioner has provided care and supervision for the child for at least twelve (12) months following the initial removal of the child from the home of the child's parent, guardian, or custodian, regardless of whether the twelve (12) months during which the petitioner has provided care and supervision for the child were consecutive; (2) a petition to terminate the parent-child relationship has been filed with regard to the child; or (3) the child has been removed from the home of the child's parent, guardian, or custodian for at least twelve (12) months and the petitioner has filed a petition for adoption or guardianship of the child. (c) A court shall grant a petition filed under this chapter requesting intervention in a termination of parent-child relationship proceeding under IC 31-35 concerning a child for whom the petitioner is providing care and supervision. As added by P.L.210-2019, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.179-2025, SEC.10.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/31Fetched: 10/17/2026