2002 Minnesota Statutes

     257C.02 Application of other law; construction. 

    (a) Chapters 256, 257, and 518 and section 525.551 apply to 
 third-party and de facto custody proceedings unless otherwise 
 specified in this chapter.  De facto or third-party child 
 custody proceedings concerning an Indian child are child custody 
 proceedings governed by the Indian Child Welfare Act, United 
 States Code, title 25, sections 1901 to 1963; by the Minnesota 
 Indian Family Preservation Act, sections 260.751 to 260.835; and 
 by this chapter when not inconsistent with the Indian Child 
 Welfare Act or the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act. 

    (b) Nothing in this chapter relieves a parent of a duty to 
 support the parent's child.  A preexisting child support order 
 is not suspended or terminated when a third party takes custody 
 of a child unless otherwise provided by court order.  A de facto 
 or third-party custodian has a cause of action against a parent 
 for child support under section 256.87, subdivision 5, and the 
 public authority has a cause of action against a parent for 
 child support under section 256.87, subdivision 1. 

    (c) Nothing in this chapter prohibits the establishment of 
 parentage under chapter 257. 

    HIST: 2002 c 304 s 2