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HomeWelfare and Institutions CodeDiv. 2Pt. 1Ch. 2Art. 11§ 381 Tribal Court Case Transfers

§ 381 Tribal Court Case Transfers

Welfare and Institutions Code·California
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§ 381 Tribal Court Case Transfers

Key Takeaways

  • •If a state court drops a case because a tribal court is already handling it or has the right to handle it, the state court must send all the case files to the tribal court.
  • •Both the state court and the tribe must write down the facts that show why the tribe has the right to handle the case.
  • •If a case is moved from a state court to a tribal court, the state court must send all the case papers to the tribe and keep a copy of the transfer order.
  • •When a transfer order is filed, the court must handle it quickly, before most other cases.

Example

A child custody case is first heard in a state court, but it turns out the child is a member of a Native American tribe.

The state court will stop handling the case and send all the papers to the tribal court. The state court and the tribe will both write down why the tribe should handle the case. The state court will also keep a copy of the order that moves the case to the tribal court.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 381 Tribal Court Case Transfers

(a) If a case is dismissed by a state court because the child is already a ward of a tribal court or the tribe has exclusive jurisdiction over Indian child custody proceedings pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 305.5, the state court shall ensure that all state court records are transmitted to the tribal court pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 305.5. The state court and the tribe shall each document the finding of the facts supporting jurisdiction over the minor. The state court and the county welfare department shall maintain a copy of the order of dismissal and the findings of fact. (b) If a case is transferred from a state court to a tribal court pursuant to subdivisions (d) and (e) of Section 305.5, the state court shall issue an order of transfer of the case that states all of the findings, orders, or modification of orders that have been made in the case, and the name and address of the tribe having jurisdiction. All papers contained in the file shall be transferred to the tribe having jurisdiction. The transferring state court and county welfare department shall maintain a copy of the order of transfer and the findings of fact. (c) If an order of transfer from a state court to a tribe is filed with the clerk of a juvenile court, the clerk shall place the transfer order on the calendar of the court, and, notwithstanding Section 378, that matter shall have precedence over all actions and civil proceedings not specifically given precedence by any other law and shall be heard by the court at the earliest possible moment after the order is filed. (Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 833, Sec. 33. (AB 3176) Effective January 1, 2019.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

jurisdictioncustodyportprecedenceinformationprioritydocumentmodification

Related Statutes

  • § 375 Juvenile Court Case Transfer
  • § 18103 County Welfare Board Appointment
  • § 224.2 Indian Child Inquiry Duty
  • § 302 Juvenile Court Parental Rights
  • § 305.5 Indian Child Jurisdiction Rules

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Welfare and Institutions Code. Section 381.
View Official Source