How can I find out when Indiana recognized Adoption as a state statute?

Question

I am researching my great great grandfather who came to Indianana on an Orphan train sometime in the 1860's. The question I am trying to answer is if the name we have is his birth name or his adopted name. This would depend on the Adoption laws, if even in existance at the time he came into Indiana.

Answer 1

Formalized adoptions were rare in the 1800s in the Midwest. Throughout the region, informal adoptions were recognized until 1910. It's the very rare (and usually wealthy) person whose adoption was carried out in a court. You're undoubtedly looking at his adoptive name and will only find his birth parents if he was good enough to list them on his marriage license or military records

Answer 2

Try going to the state web site for Indiana and going into the history section.Then do a search to check about the adoption laws.