North Dakota Century Code Title 27. Judicial Branch of Government § 27-20.3-24. Disposition upon termination of parental rights

1. If, upon entering an order terminating the parental rights of a parent, there is no parent having parental rights, the court shall:

2. The custodian has the rights of a legal custodian and authority to consent to the child's adoption, marriage, enlistment in the armed forces of the United States, and surgical and other medical treatment.

3. If the child is not placed for adoption within twelve months after the date of the order and a legal guardianship or other planned permanent living arrangement for the child has not been established by a court of competent jurisdiction, the child must be returned to the court issuing the original termination order for entry of further orders for the care, custody, and control of the child.

4. Unless chapter 27-19.1 or the federal Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 [25 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.] applies, and if after conducting a diligent and exhaustive search, a fit and willing relative interested in adoption is not located, a human service zone director or licensed child-placing agency that places a child for adoption under subdivision a of subsection 1, shall consider granting the adoptive placement to a licensed, certified, or approved family foster home for children provider interested in adopting the child, if the licensed, certified, or approved family foster home for children provider provided foster care to the child:

5. Subsection 4 does not apply if considering the adoptive placement to the licensed, certified, or approved family foster home for children provider would result in siblings who are placed for adoption being placed in separate homes.