13.60.020 Purpose and applicability.
(a) A Yurok family law guardianship may be granted by the Yurok Tribal Court if the Court finds that it is necessary or convenient and in the best interest of the child. A Yurok family law guardianship is established because a child is living with an adult who is not the child’s parent, and the adult needs a court order to make decisions on behalf of the child. A Yurok family law guardianship suspends, but does not terminate, parental legal rights.
(b) Situations where the Yurok Tribal Court may find a Yurok family law guardianship appropriate include, but are not limited to, cases where one or more parent:
(1) Has a serious physical or mental illness that has rendered them unable to provide care to the child;
(2) Is in the military and is being deployed away from their home area and/or has to leave the area for work and/or school;
(3) Has decided to go to a rehab program for what may be an undetermined period of time;
(4) Is going to jail and/or prison for a period of time;
(5) Has a drug or alcohol abuse problem that has rendered them unable to provide care for the child;
(6) Has a history of being abusive to this child or a sibling of this child; or
(7) Cannot take care of their child for some other reason.
(c) When determining whether or not to grant a Yurok family law guardianship, the Yurok Tribal Court will look at what is in the best interest of the child to make sure the child is raised in a safe, stable, and loving environment. [Ord. 50 § 14.2, adopted, 3/23/2017.]