In re B.L. CA3

BACKGROUND

Because mother’s sole claim challenges compliance with the ICWA, we limit the background summary to ICWA related facts and procedure unless otherwise relevant to the issue on appeal. The minor was removed from mother’s sole custody after the Agency filed a dependency petition pursuant to section 300, subdivisions (b)(1), (g) and (j). Mother informed the Agency that T.B. was the minor’s father because he was with mother when the minor was born and he signed the minor’s birth certificate. However, mother later reported that T.B. was not the minor’s biological father. Instead, the biological father was a man named Jonathan, with whom she had had a “brief encounter” when she lived in Mexico. Mother did not know Jonathan’s last name, but she stated he lived in Mexico and had never been in the minor’s life. The juvenile court ordered the minor detained and declared T.B. to be the minor’s biological father. Mother informed the Agency that there was no known Indian ancestry on her side of the family. She completed an ICWA-010A form to that effect. The maternal grandmother and the maternal aunt each completed ICWA-020 forms indicating they had no known Indian ancestry. Mother…