Parental Rights in Montana

Resolution Supporting the PRA

We did it! Thanks in part to your support, in 2011, the Montana legislature passed a joint resolution (SJR 9) calling on Congress to adopt a Parental Rights Amendment. Led by Sen. R. Hutton, it passed both houses by a large majority. (Learn more about state resolutions.)

Montana Parental Rights News

Urgent Action Needed: Bill to Reform Montana CPS Investigations to be heard TODAY

January 23, 2023

We need your help today to pass SB 181, a good bill to require notice of parental legal rights in child and family services cases. SB 181 has been introduced by Senator Dennis Lenz, and will provide numerous Constitutional due process protections to families when Montana Department of Child and Family Services investigators are conducting…

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Montana State Law and Parental Rights

Yes!Protected

Montana Code Annotated provides the following:

Mont. Code Ann. § 40-6-701:

(1) A governmental entity may not interfere with the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of their children unless the governmental entity demonstrates that the interference:

(a) furthers a compelling governmental interest; and

(b) is narrowly tailored and is the least restrictive means available for the furthering of the compelling governmental interest.

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Montana Courts and Parental Rights

"Strict Scrutiny" Applied to Parental Rights

However, this precedent is subject to change.

Kulstad v. Maniaci, 220 P.3d 595, 542 (Mont. 2009): The MT Supreme Court upheld strict scrutiny protection to parental rights. "'The liberty interest at issue in this case—the interest of parents in the care, custody, and control of their children—is perhaps the oldest of the fundamental liberty interests recognized by this Court.' Troxel. Thus, this statute (§ 40-4-228, MCA) is subject to strict scrutiny review.”