Martin B. CA2/4

INTRODUCTION

Father (Carlos B.) appeals from the juvenile court’s order terminating parental rights over his child, Martin B. (born Aug. 2017) under Welfare and Institutions Code section 366.26.1 He contends that the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) failed to comply with the inquiry requirements under the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) (25 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq.) and related California statutes (§ 224 et seq.). We affirm.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND2

In a prior dependency proceeding, the juvenile court issued a family law order granting father and mother (A.C.) joint legal custody of Martin, and father was given sole physical custody of the child. At the time of the current proceeding, father resided in paternal grandmother’s home with paternal aunt, her child, and Martin. On July 19, 2019, DCFS filed a dependency petition on behalf of Martin, and on September 16, 2019, the petition was sustained as amended by interlineation. At the time of adjudication, Martin was placed in the care of maternal great-aunt. Appended to the dependency petition was the Indian child inquiry attachment (ICWA-010 form), which reflected that when questioned…