Sec. 19. (a) Except as provided in section 18.5 of this chapter and subject to section 21 of this chapter, upon a request described under section 18 of this chapter, a local office, a licensed child placing agency, or an attorney that contacts an adoptee may not disclose identifying information unless the adoptee:

(1) if the adoptee is at least twenty-one (21) years of age, gives written consent; or

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Terms Used In Indiana Code 31-19-25-19

  • Attorney: includes a counselor or other person authorized to appear and represent a party in an action or special proceeding. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
  • in writing: include printing, lithographing, or other mode of representing words and letters. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
(2) if the adoptee is less than twenty-one (21) years of age, has the written consent of the adoptee’s adoptive parents;

to the release of identifying information by the local office, the licensed child placing agency, or the attorney.

     (b) If:

(1) an adoptee who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age; or

(2) an adoptive parent of an adoptee who is less than twenty-one (21) years of age;

consents to the release of identifying information but does not provide the consent in writing, the local office, the licensed child placing agency, or the attorney may inform the birth parent regarding the fact that the adoptee or the adoptive parent has consented to the release of identifying information. The local office, the licensed child placing agency, or the attorney may inquire as to whether the adoptee or adoptive parent, whose consent is still needed before identifying information may be released, is interested in participating in the adoption registry under IC 31-19-18 through IC 31-19-24, this chapter, and IC 31-19-25.5.

As added by P.L.191-2011, SEC.52. Amended by P.L.6-2012, SEC.204; P.L.128-2012, SEC.82.

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