Montana Code 40-6-1001. Petition for termination — criteria — process
40-6-1001. (Temporary) Petition for termination — criteria — process. (1) A district court may order a termination of the parent-child legal relationship after the filing of a petition pursuant to this section alleging the factual grounds for termination as provided for in subsection (2).
Terms Used In Montana Code 40-6-1001
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Person: includes a corporation or other entity as well as a natural person. See Montana Code 1-1-201
- Process: means a writ or summons issued in the course of judicial proceedings. See Montana Code 1-1-202
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Montana Code 1-1-201
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
- United States: includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Montana Code 1-1-201
(2)Grounds for termination pursuant to this section exist when the parent of a child:
(a)is convicted of a felony in which sexual intercourse occurred or is a minor adjudicated a delinquent youth because of an act that, if committed by an adult, would be a felony in which sexual intercourse occurred and, as a result of the sexual intercourse, the child is born; or
(b)at a fact-finding hearing is found by clear and convincing evidence, except as provided in the federal Indian Child Welfare Act and the Montana Indian Child Welfare Act provided for in Title 41, chapter 3, part 13, if applicable, to have committed an act of sexual intercourse without consent, sexual assault, or incest that caused the child to be conceived.
(3)The court’s order must state the reasons for the decision.
(4)The victim of the crime or act may file a petition pursuant to this section. If the victim is a minor, the victim’s parent or guardian may file a petition on the victim’s behalf.
(5)The respondent to the petition has the right to counsel in all proceedings held pursuant to the petition.
(6)Before termination of the parent-child legal relationship may be ordered, the court shall determine whether the provisions of 40-6-1002 and 40-6-1003 have been followed.
(7)There is no right to a jury trial at proceedings held to consider the termination of a parent-child legal relationship.
(8)(a) An order for the termination of the parent-child legal relationship divests the child and the parent of all legal rights, powers, immunities, duties, and obligations with respect to each other as provided in Title 40, chapter 6, part 2, and Title 41, chapter 3, part 2, except:
(i)the right of the child to inherit from the parent; and
(ii)that nothing in this section may be construed to relieve the parent whose rights are terminated as provided in this part of any child support obligations as provided in Title 40, chapters 4 and 5.
(b)An order or decree entered pursuant to this part may not disentitle a child to any benefit due to the child from a third person, including but not limited to an Indian tribe, an agency, a state, or the United States. (Terminates June 30, 2025–sec. 55, Ch. 716, L. 2023.)