Comment Sought on Proposed Tribal Code Changes

The Suquamish Tribal Council invites written comments on proposed revisions to the following sections of the Suquamish Tribal Code (STC) Title 9:

• Chapter 9.1 Marriage and Divorce
• Chapter 9.2 Paternity
• Chapter 9.5 Probate Procedure
• Chapter 9.7 General Provisions Applying to Title 9
• Chapter 9.8 Child Custody and Co-Parenting

Summary of Proposed Amendments:

• Chapter 9.1 Marriage and Divorce – The proposed amendments update the legal age of consent for marriage to 18 years and older. It also adopts community property as the applicable law and revises the code section to align with modern practices and terminology.
• Chapter 9.2 Paternity – The proposed amendments update terminology to align with model language, ensuring clarity and consistency with contemporary legal practices.
• Chapter 9.5 Probate Procedure – This newly proposed chapter replaces the existing Chapter 9.5. It aims to modernize the probate process in Suquamish Tribal Court, creating procedures that better serve the needs of the Tribe and its community members.
• Chapter 9.7 General Provisions Applying to Title 9 – This new chapter will provide supporting provisions that clarify and reinforce the changes to Title 9, as well as the introduction of Chapter 9.8 on child custody and parenting plans.
• Chapter 9.8 Child Custody and Parenting Plans – This new chapter establishes a procedure for resolving child custody matters and creating parenting plans, ensuring the best interests of the children and families involved.

How to Submit Comments:

Written comments on the proposed revisions are welcome and must be submitted by Feb. 10, 2026. We encourage all interested parties to provide feedback. Please feel free to forward this notice to others who may be interested.

Submit comments to: