New Mexico Child Custody Issues Involving Native American Children

New Mexico Child Custody Issues Involving Native American Children | Collins & Collins, P.C. - JDSupra:

Child custody disputes in New Mexico can involve many special circumstances that may not commonly arise in other states. For instance, given the large Native American population in New Mexico, a number of the children caught in custody disputes may be Native American. New Mexico is home to 19 Pueblos, two Apache tribes, and a large portion of the Navajo Nation. In addition, many Native Americans live off reservation throughout the state, concentrating in Albuquerque, Farmington, and Gallup. According to the US Census Bureau, in 2010 an estimated 9.4% of New Mexico's population was American Indian. Custody disputes involving Native American children have several important implications of which all parents need to be aware.