Opinion ID: 2127610
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Is the Child a Child of the Marriage Under the Dissolution Act?

Text: Finally, Donald argues that he is not responsible for child support because the child is not a child of the marriage under the Dissolution of Marriage Act. Ind. Code Ann. ch. 31-1-11.5-1 (West 1979 & 1994). We disagree. Child is defined under the Act as a child or children of both parties to the marriage and includes children born out of wedlock to the parties as well as children born or adopted during the marriage of the parties. Ind. Code Ann. § 31-1-11.5-2(c). A child conceived through artificial insemination, with the consent of both parties, is correctly classified as a child of the marriage. The Court of Appeals accurately analogized this situation to a child adopted during the marriage by the agreement of the husband and wife. Levin, 626 N.E.2d at 532. We thus hold that, as in the case of adoption, where both the husband and wife knowingly and voluntarily consent to artificial insemination, the resulting child is a child of their marriage. Both Donald and Barbara were fully informed and consented to Barbara's artificial insemination. The resulting child is a child of their marriage under the Dissolution of Marriage Act. Accordingly, both parents have an obligation to support the child.