Lake County Division of Family & Children Services v. T.B.

I respectfully dissent from the majority's ruling that the Lake Circuit Court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction in the adoption matter.

According to IND.CODE § 81-3-1-l1(a) (1988 Ed.), courts with probate jurisdiction handle adoption matters. In Lake County, the superior court is divided into civil, criminal, county, and juvenile divisions. IND. CODE § 38-5-29.5-21(a) (1992 Supp.). The juvenile division of the Lake Superior Court does not have probate jurisdiction; therefore, it does not have subject-matter jurisdiction over adoption matters. The Lake Circuit Court, on the other hand, does…