Notice to unnamed father; form
Sec. 4. Notice of the adoption proceeding required under section
3 of this chapter shall be given to an unnamed putative father in
substantially the following form:
"NOTICE TO UNNAMED FATHER
The unnamed putative father of the child born to ______ (mother's
name) on _____ (date), or the person who claims to be the father of
the child born to _____ (mother's name) on _____ (date), is notified
that a petition for adoption of the child was filed in the office of the
clerk of _____ court, _____ (address of court).
If the unnamed putative father seeks to contest the adoption of the
child, the unnamed putative father must file a motion to contest the
adoption in accordance with IC 31-19-10-1 in the above named court
or a paternity action under IC 31-14 within thirty (30) days after the
date of service of this notice. This notice may be served by
publication.
If the unnamed putative father:
(1) does not file:
(A) a motion to contest the adoption; or
(B) a paternity action under IC 31-14;
within thirty (30) days after service of this notice; or
(2) after filing a paternity action under IC 31-14 fails to
establish paternity;
the above named court shall hear and determine the petition for
adoption. The unnamed putative father's consent is irrevocably
implied and the unnamed putative father loses the right to contest the
adoption or the validity of the unnamed putative father's implied
consent to the adoption. The unnamed putative father loses the right
to establish paternity of the child under IC 31-14.
Nothing __________ (mother's name) or any one else says to the
unnamed putative father of the child relieves the unnamed putative
father of his obligations under this notice.
Under Indiana law, a putative father is a person who is named as
or claims that he may be the father of a child born out of wedlock but
who has not yet been legally proven to be the child's father.
This notice complies with IC 31-19-4-4 but does not exhaustively
set forth the unnamed putative father's legal obligations under the
Indiana adoption statutes. A person being served with this notice
should consult the Indiana adoption statutes.".
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.200-1999,
SEC.16; P.L.61-2003, SEC.7.
Last modified: May 24, 2006