Montana Code 41-3-1327. Improper removal of Indian child
41-3-1327. (Temporary) Improper removal of Indian child. If a petitioner in a child custody proceeding under this part has improperly removed an Indian child from the custody of the parent or Indian custodian or has improperly retained custody after a visit or other temporary relinquishment of custody, the court shall decline jurisdiction over the petition and shall immediately return the Indian child to the parent or Indian custodian unless returning the Indian child to the parent or Indian custodian would subject the Indian child to substantial and immediate danger or threat of substantial or immediate danger. (Terminates June 30, 2025–sec. 55, Ch. 716, L. 2023.)
Terms Used In Montana Code 41-3-1327
- Child custody proceeding: means any state or private proceeding, other than an emergency proceeding, that may culminate in a foster care placement, termination of parental rights, preadoptive placement, or adoptive placement. See Montana Code 41-3-1303
- Indian: means a person who is a member of an Indian tribe or who is an Alaska Native and a member of a regional corporation as established in 43 U. See Montana Code 41-3-1303
- Indian child: means an unmarried Indian person who is under 18 years of age and who is:
(a)a member of an Indian tribe; or
(b)eligible for membership in an Indian tribe and is the biological child of a member of an Indian tribe. See Montana Code 41-3-1303
- Indian custodian: means an Indian person who under tribal law, tribal custom, or state law has legal or temporary physical custody of an Indian child or to whom the parent has transferred temporary care, physical custody, and control of the Indian child. See Montana Code 41-3-1303
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Parent: means a biological parent of an Indian child or an individual who has lawfully adopted an Indian child, including adoptions made as tribal customary adoptions. See Montana Code 41-3-1303