In Re the Guardianship of J.C.D.

KONENKAMP, Justice.

[¶ 1.] In this guardianship action, the mother timely moved to transfer jurisdiction to tribal court. All parties stipulated that the matter was controlled by the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). On considering the motion, the trial court ruled that good cause existed to deny the transfer because witnesses and parties would be unduly burdened if the motion was granted and because the best interests of the child were best served by denying the request. Because these reasons were inadequate to override the mandates of ICWA, we reverse.

Background

[¶ 2.] J.C.D. was born on…