Indiana Code
Ind. Code § 31-19-1-2 (2026)
Exclusive jurisdiction of probate court
✓ current as of May 2026
Sec. 2. (a) This section applies to each Indiana county that has a separate probate court.
(b) The probate court has exclusive jurisdiction in all adoption matters.
[Pre-1997 Recodification Citations: 31-3-1-1(a) part 31-3-1-11 part.]
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11.
IC 31-19-2Chapter 2. Filing of Petition for Adoption
31-19-2-1Adoption of adult; petition; venue; consent;
investigation
31-19-2-1.1Name change by lifetime sex or violent offender
31-19-2-2Adoption of minor child; petition; venue;
substituting petitioner
31-19-2-3Repealed
31-19-2-4Consent to adoption by petitioner's spouse
31-19-2-5Filing of petition; number of copies; verification
31-19-2-6Contents of petition; additional documents
31-19-2-7Medical report
31-19-2-7.2Prohibition on immunization as condition for
adoption; penalties for violation
31-19-2-7.3Waiver of criminal history check requirements
prohibited
31-19-2-7.5Submission of information, forms, or consents for
criminal history check
31-19-2-7.6Notification of criminal charge while adoption
pending
31-19-2-8Adoption history fee; putative father registry fee
31-19-2-9Deposit of fees in adoption history fund
31-19-2-10Notice of filing of petition; examination,
correction, and amendment of form of petition
31-19-2-11Clerk's examination of form of petition
31-19-2-12Copies of petition forwarded to licensed child
placing agency
31-19-2-13Temporary custody of adopted children
31-19-2-14Consolidated paternity and adoption proceedings
31-19-2-15Information provided to current foster parent and
prospective adoptive parent; explanation of
information; signature
31-19-2-16Guardian ad litem pilot program for incapacitated
parents
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 21
cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2000–2025 · leading case: In Re Infant Girl W., 845 N.E.2d 229 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006).
In Re Infant Girl W., 845 N.E.2d 229 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006). “I.C. § 31-19-1-2. Thus, juvenile courts have no authority to create permanent parent-child ties through adoption or to rule on any other adoption matters.”
In Re the Adoption of H.N.P.G., 878 N.E.2d 900 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008). “Ind.Code § 31-19-1-2 (1998). Yet, with some exceptions, juvenile courts have exclusive jurisdiction over CHINS proceedings.”
Mariga v. Flint, 822 N.E.2d 620 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005). “§ 83-28-1-2 (granting cireuit courts general civil and criminal jurisdiction), and I.C. § 31-19-1-2(b) (probate courts have exclusive jurisdiction in adoption matters).”
In the Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of: R.L.-P. (Minor Child) & M.E. (Father) v. The Indiana Dep't of Child Servs., 119 N.E.3d 1098 (Ind. Ct. App. 2019). “See I.C. § 31-19-1-2(b) (providing that for counties that have a separate probate court, "[t]he probate court has exclusive jurisdiction in all adoption matters.”
In the Matter of the Adoption of Minor Child.: J.T.D. & J.S.: Ind. Dept. of Child Servs. v. N.E., 21 N.E.3d 824 (Ind. 2014). “Because Lake County Has No “Separate Probate Court,” the Exclusive Jurisdiction Provision of Indiana Code section 31-19-1-2 Does Not Apply- As a threshold issue, we address the Court of Appeals’ reliance on Indiana Code section 31 — 19—1—2(b), which provides that the “ ‘probate…”
In Re Adoption of JDB, 867 N.E.2d 252 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007). “Ind. Code § 31-19-1-2 . Juvenile courts, with some exceptions, have exclusive original jurisdiction over CHINS cases.”
In Re Adoption of LCE, 940 N.E.2d 1224 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011). “[4] Ind.Code § 31-19-1-2 places "exclusive jurisdiction in all adoption matters" in probate courts, if a county "has a separate probate court.”
In Re Adoption of IKEW, 724 N.E.2d 245 (Ind. Ct. App. 2000). “CODE § 31-19-1-2 (in each Indiana county that has a separate probate court, "[t]he probate court has exclusive jurisdiction in all adoption matters.”
N.E. v. Indiana Dep't of Child Servs., 5 N.E.3d 786 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014). “Consistent with this statute, Indiana Code section 31-19-1-2 provides that the “probate court has exclusive jurisdiction in all adoption matters.”
In Re Adoption of BW, 889 N.E.2d 1236 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008). “However, Indiana Code section 31-19-1-2 specifically *1240 addresses a court's jurisdiction in adoption matters and states: (a) This section applies to each Indiana county that has a separate probate court.”
In Re Adoption of Hlw, Jr., 931 N.E.2d 400 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010). “Indiana Code Section 31-19-1-2 provides that probate courts have exclusive jurisdiction in all adoption cases.”
D.H. v. J.H., 940 N.E.2d 1224 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011). “Ind.Code § 31-19-1-2 places "exclusive jurisdiction in all adoption matters" in probate courts, if a county "has a separate probate court.”
— Ind. Code § 31-19-1-2(b) — 2 cases
Mariga v. Flint, 822 N.E.2d 620 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005). “§ 83-28-1-2 (granting cireuit courts general civil and criminal jurisdiction), and I.C. § 31-19-1-2(b) (probate courts have exclusive jurisdiction in adoption matters).”
In the Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of: R.L.-P. (Minor Child) & M.E. (Father) v. The Indiana Dep't of Child Servs., 119 N.E.3d 1098 (Ind. Ct. App. 2019). “See I.C. § 31-19-1-2(b) (providing that for counties that have a separate probate court, "[t]he probate court has exclusive jurisdiction in all adoption matters.”
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