Opinion ID: 1117125
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Federal Statutes and Guidelines

Text: 25 U.S.C. § 1903(4) defines an Indian child as an unmarried person who is under age eighteen and . . . (b) is eligible for membership in an Indian tribe and is the biological child of a member of an Indian tribe. B.G.J. is an Indian child within the meaning of ICWA. 25 U.S.C. § 1915(a) (2000) provides: In any adoptive placement of an Indian child under State law, a preference shall be given, in the absence of good cause to the contrary, to a placement with (1) a member of the child's extended family; (2) other members of the Indian child's tribe; or (3) other Indian families. The Bureau of Indian Affairs published guidelines for state courts' implementation of ICWA. 44 Fed. Reg. 67,584 (Nov. 1979). Guideline F.3 states the following with regard to good cause to modify the statutory preferences: (a) For purposes of foster care, preadoptive or adoptive placement, a determination of good cause not to follow the order of preference . . . shall be based on one or more of the following considerations: (i) The request of the biological parents or the child when the child is of sufficient age. (ii) The extraordinary physical or emotional needs of the child as established by testimony of a qualified expert witness. (iii) The unavailability of suitable families for placement after a diligent search has been completed for families meeting the preference criteria. (b) The burden of establishing the existence of good cause not to follow the order of preferences . . . shall be on the party urging that the preferences not be followed. 44 Fed. Reg. 67,594 (Nov. 1979).