Sec. 42. “Domestic or family violence” means, except for an act of self-defense, the occurrence of one (1) or more of the following acts committed by a family or household member:

(1) Attempting to cause, threatening to cause, or causing physical harm to another family or household member without legal justification.

(2) Placing a family or household member in fear of physical harm without legal justification.

(3) Causing a family or household member to involuntarily engage in sexual activity by force, threat of force, or duress.

(4) Abusing (as described in IC 35-46-3-0.5), torturing (as described in IC 35-46-3-0.5), mutilating (as described in IC 35-46-3-0.5), or killing a vertebrate animal without justification with the intent to threaten, intimidate, coerce, harass, or terrorize a family or household member.

For purposes of IC 22-4-15-1 and IC 34-26-5, domestic or family violence also includes stalking (as defined in IC 35-45-10-1) or a sex offense under IC 35-42-4, whether or not the stalking or sex offense is committed by a family or household member.

[Pre-1997 Recodification Citations: 31-1-11.5-2(d); 31-6-6.1-11(a) part.]

As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.133-2002, SEC.21; P.L.189-2003, SEC.9; P.L.221-2003, SEC.3; P.L.97-2004, SEC.104; P.L.171-2007, SEC.2; P.L.141-2019, SEC.1.