LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY
OFFICE OF FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
LS 7606 NOTE PREPARED: Jan 10, 2025
BILL NUMBER: HB 1684 BILL AMENDED:
SUBJECT: Irretrievable Breakdown of Marriage.
FIRST AUTHOR: Rep. Wesco BILL STATUS: As Introduced
FIRST SPONSOR:
FUNDS AFFECTED: GENERAL IMPACT: Local
DEDICATED
FEDERAL
Summary of Legislation: This bill provides that if the parties to a petition for dissolution of marriage are
the parents of one or more minor children for whom the parties have legal and physical custody, and the sole
ground for dissolution of the marriage asserted in the petition is irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, a
court may enter a dissolution decree only if: (1) at least one party to the petition presents a witness at the
final hearing on the petition who testifies to affirm the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage; or (2) the
parties can show cause as to why the petition should be granted. It specifies the individuals who may provide
testimony as to the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, and provides that an individual other than a
licensed counselor may not have received any form of compensation for acting as a witness.
Effective Date: July 1, 2025.
Explanation of State Expenditures:
Explanation of State Revenues:
Explanation of Local Expenditures: This bill could increase local court workload to hold hearings for
dissolution of marriage cases involving children. Additionally, the bill could impact the use of mediation
services to expedite dissolution of marriage petitions, further increasing the number of hearings held in court.
Additional Information - For FY 2023, a total of 12,819 dissolution of marriage cases involving children
were heard before courts in Indiana. These cases accounted for approximately 3% of all civil cases in the
state during FY 2023.
Explanation of Local Revenues:
State Agencies Affected:
Local Agencies Affected: Courts.
HB 1684 1 Information Sources: Indiana Trial Court Statistics, FY 2023.
Fiscal Analyst: Bill Brumbach, 317-232-9559.
HB 1684 2