Sec. 16. (a) Not later than five (5) days after receiving a request under section 15 of this chapter, the state department of health shall submit an affidavit to the attorney or agency verifying whether a putative father:

(1) is registered within the period specified by section 12 of this chapter in relation to a mother whose child is the subject of the adoption that the attorney or agency is arranging; or

(2) has filed a petition to establish paternity.

(b) Whenever the state department of health finds that one (1) or more putative fathers are registered, the state department shall:

(1) submit a copy of each registration form with the state department's affidavit; and

(2) include in the affidavit the date that the attorney or agency submits the request for a search that relates to the affidavit.

(c) Whenever the state department of health finds that one (1) or more putative fathers have filed a petition to establish paternity, the state department of health shall:

(1) submit a copy of each notice prepared by the clerk of the court under IC 31-14-9-0.5 with the state department of health's affidavit; and

(2) include in the affidavit the date the attorney or agency submitted the request for the search that relates to the affidavit.

(d) A court may not grant an adoption unless the state department's affidavit under this section is filed with the court as provided under IC 31-19-11-1(a)(4).

[Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-3-1.5-14(b).]

As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.58-2009, SEC.16; P.L.1-2010, SEC.123.