{"data":{"id":"us-mt/40-4-227","jurisdiction":"us-mt","citation":"40-4-227","heading":"Rights of parents and children -- policy -- findings.","body":"(1) It is the policy of the state of Montana:\n(a) to recognize the constitutionally protected rights of parents and the integrity of the family unit;\n(b) to recognize a child's constitutionally protected rights, including all fundamental rights unless those rights are specifically precluded by laws that enhance their protection; and\n(c) to ensure that the best interests of the child are met in parenting proceedings.\n(2) The legislature finds:\n(a) that while it is in the best interests of a child to maintain a relationship with a natural parent, a natural parent's inchoate interest in the child requires constitutional protection only when the parent has demonstrated a timely commitment to the responsibilities of parenthood; and\n(b) that a parent's constitutionally protected interest in the parental control of a child should yield to the best interests of the child when the parent's conduct is contrary to the child-parent relationship.","path":["TITLE 40. FAMILY LAW","CHAPTER 4. TERMINATION OF MARRIAGE, CHILD CUSTODY, SUPPORT","Part 2. Support, Custody, Visitation, and Related Provisions"],"source_url":"https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0400/chapter_0040/part_0020/section_0270/0400-0040-0020-0270.html","current_through":"Montana Code Annotated 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T04:54:50Z","sha256":"dcd3e828707b79fff5f82b0fa7448197df77556f2e9084474ffc4257ba5697a6","source_id":"us-mt","stale":false,"prev":"us-mt/40-4-226","next":"us-mt/40-4-228"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}