Opinion ID: 852370
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Venue Is Important

Text: The General Assembly has enacted venue requirements for adoptions. The directive is largely the same for resident and non-resident petitioners. For residents, venue lies in (1) the county where the petitioner resides, (2) the county in which the licensed child placing agency or governmental agency having custody of the child is located, or (3) the county where the child resides. Ind.Code § 31-19-2-2. When the petitioner is a non-resident, venue lies only in the last two of these locations. Ind.Code Ann. § 31-19-2-3. This enactment reflects the desirability of access to full information and services proximate to the location of children. While venue is not jurisdictional, courts should still observe the directives of the statute. See id. Whatever else may be tortured about this litigation, it is unquestioned that none of the participants were residents of Hamilton County. The disconnect between the adoption proceedings and the CHINS proceedings as respects Infants H underscores the importance of honoring the legislative judgment about venue. Faced with situations like the instant case, the adoption court should transfer the matter to the county where the children are located.