If you have a newborn that you're unable to care for, you can bring your baby to a designated safe place with no questions asked. The safe haven laws—also known as Baby Moses laws—give parents who are unable to care for their child a safe and legal choice to leave their infant with an employee at a designated safe place—a hospital, fire station, free-standing emergency center, or emergency medical services (EMS) station. When left at such a designated safe place, your baby will receive medical care and be placed with an emergency provider.
In Montana, the Safe Haven Law allows a parent to surrender a newborn baby at a designated safe place without facing criminal prosecution for abandonment. The law is intended to prevent harm to infants from unsafe abandonment. A parent can leave a newborn who is up to 30 days old with an employee at a safe haven location, which includes hospitals, fire stations, and emergency medical service providers. The baby must be handed over to an actual person, and as long as the baby has not been abused or neglected, the parent will not be pursued for abandonment. The surrendered infant will receive medical care if needed and will be placed with a child protective services agency to ensure their safety and well-being.