OPINION
{1} This case presents an issue of first impression: whether a foster child is a “resident” of the foster home for the purposes of the resident exclusion in a homeowner’s insurance policy. The district court, determining that foster child Emeterio Garcia was a resident of the home of his foster parents, James and Kathy Apodaea (Apodacas), granted summary judgment to the insurance carrier, Farmers Insurance Company of Arizona (Farmers). We reverse the summary judgment and remand for further proceedings.
I. BACKGROUND
{2} The undisputed facts in the record are that: (1) on October 30, 1996, the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD), which had legal custody of two-year-old Emeterio, placed the child in the licensed foster home of the Apodacas for “long term” care with a plan to return Emeterio home to his parents; (2) the child died on May 13, 1997, by drowning in a hot tub at the foster home; (3) the Apodacas were named insureds under a homeowner’s policy issued by Farmers; (4) the policy provides liability coverage for the Apodacas for certain damages they become legally liable to pay and excludes coverage for “bodily injury to any resident of the residence premises” or for injury resulting from home care services provided by the insured; and (5) as licensed foster parents, the Apodacas were “public employees” of the State of New Mexico. The Risk Management Division (RMD) extends insurance coverage under the Public Liability Fund for certain claims brought against public employees.
{3} On May 12, 1999, JoAnn Martinez (Martinez), Emeterio’s grandmother, individually and as personal representative of Emeterio’s estate, brought a wrongful death suit against the Apodacas, CYFD, and certain of CYFD’s employees, alleging 42 U.S.C. § 1983 violations, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty. Farmers and RMD disagree as to whether (1) Emeterio was a resident of the Apodacas’ home, (2) Emeterio’s death was excluded from coverage, and (3) Farmers or RMD has the duty to defend or indemnify the Apodacas for any judgment entered against them.
{4} On September 1,1999, RMD brought a declaratory judgment action against Farmers and others, seeking a determination that Farmers is primarily liable for any liability of the Apodacas to Martinez and Emeterio’s estate. Farmers moved for summary judgment on the grounds that resident and home care exclusions applied to this case. RMD opposed summary judgment arguing that the circumstances of the case give rise to a factual dispute as to whether Emeterio was a resident and whether the home care services exclusion applies to foster care. Martinez also filed a memorandum in opposition to summary judgment, but was dismissed from the action by stipulation before the summary judgment hearing. Following a hearing on January 24, 2001, the district court granted summary judgment to Farmers concluding that Emeterio was a resident and that the resident exclusion applied to deny coverage for his death. The order did not address the home care exclusion.
{5} RMD argues on appeal that the district court’s ruling on the resident exclusion was in error, and that it would be improper to grant summary judgment on the home care services exemption. Since the district court has not ruled on the home care services exclusion, we address only the resident exclusion on appeal. See In re Termination of Parental Rights Eventyr J.,
II. DISCUSSION
A. Standard of Review on Summary Judgment
{6} Summary judgment is proper when no issues exist as to any material fact and “only the legal effect of the undisputed facts remains to be decided.” Ruiz v. Garcia,
B. Contract Interpretation
{7} We must determine whether the district court had before it sufficiently developed facts to conclude as a matter of law that Emeterio was a resident of the Apodacas’ home and that the resident exclusion applies. The relevant portions of the Apodacas’ policy read as follows:
DEFINITIONS
9. Insured' — means you and the following persons if permanent residents of your household:
a. your relatives,
b. anyone under the age of 21.
SECTION II — LIABILITY
We will pay those damages which an insured becomes legally obligated to pay because of bodily injury ... resulting from an occurrence to which this coverage applies.
SECTION II EXCLUSIONS
We do not cover:
6. Bodily injury to any resident of the residence premises except a residence employee who is not covered under Workers’ Compensation or Employers’ Liability Coverage.
The policy does not define “resident.”
{8} In interpreting the undefined “resident,” the district court is guided by general principles of contract law. See Rummel v. Lexington Ins. Co.,
{9} We find no New Mexico case law on whether an undefined “resident” in a household insurance policy is ambiguous language. Other jurisdictions considering the term “resident” in insurance policies arrive at differing conclusions. See, e.g., Farmers Ins. Co. v. Oliver,
{10} We agree with other jurisdictions that have concluded the undefined term, “resident” or “residence” may be subject to various interpretations depending on the context of the case. “[Rjesidence usu[ually] just means bodily presence as an inhabitant in a given place.” Black’s Law Dictionary 1310 (7th ed.1999). But the term can be also mean domicile, which may require presence and intent “to make the place one’s home.” Id.; see also Hagan v. Hardwick,
{11} When construing ambiguous contract language, the district court must “adopt the interpretation that is most in accord with reason and the probable expectations of the parties.” Rummel,
{12} Before discussing the factors, however, we briefly address RMD’s request that this Court adopt the same analysis of residency as used in the context of divorce proceedings, Hagan,
C. Analysis
1. Factors-Other Jurisdictions
{13} New Mexico has not previously addressed the specific question of whether a foster child is a resident of a foster home under a homeowner’s insurance policy and so we turn to other jurisdictions for guidance. Those courts which have addressed the issue have conducted a case-by-case analysis using a variety of factors that we find persuasive. See, e.g., Country Mut. Ins. Co. v. Peoples Bank,
{14} These cases involve two basic inquiries: what was the intent of the parties to the insurance contract, and what was the nature of the child’s stay in the foster home. Some jurisdictions also discuss the public policy behind allowing the resident exclusion to apply. See, e.g., A.G. by Waite,
2. New Mexico Test for Exclusion to Apply to the Foster Child
{15} We hold that to determine whether Emeterio was a resident under the Apodacas’ homeowner’s insurance policy, the district court should consider 1) the intent of the parties to the insurance contract and 2) the nature of the child’s stay in the foster home. The public policy allowing the exclusion is inherent in evaluating the two factors. As we discussed above, in determining what coverage the parties intended, the district court first examines the language of the policy, construing it as a whole, and then may look to extrinsic evidence. Rummel,
{16} We emphasize that an insurer cannot have it both ways. For example, if the foster child is not considered a resident for purposes of coverage for tortious acts on third parties, the child cannot, then, be considered a resident for purposes of the exclusion. See A.G. by Waite,
{17} By nature of the child’s stay, we mean both the State’s objective intention for the child’s stay and the subjective relationship between the child and foster parents. In determining the State’s intent, the following should be considered: CYFD documentation concerning the designation of the child’s placement prior to the injury, e.g., “emergency,” or “long term”; any dates proposed for moving the child from the foster home prior to the injury; any pending assessments or other evaluations by CYFD that might bear on the child’s continued placement in the foster home; any orders pending prior to the injury that might affect the child’s placement; and the duration of the child’s actual stay in the home. We decline to set any bright line test for how long the foster child must be in the home-either actual or intended length of stay-before the child becomes a resident. But see AG. by Waite,
{18} We emphasize that although actual or intended duration of .the relationship is a factor, it is not determinative. Nor is a showing of permanency required. See id. at 645 (stating that while permanency is not required, something more than a mere temporary sojourn is required for a person to be a resident). We therefore disagree with the arguments of both RMD and Farmers to the extent they claim that a certain duration and/or termination date for the foster care relationship is necessary for designation as a resident.
{19} In determining the nature of this foster child/foster parent relationship, the district court should consider whether the relationship was informal, close, and intimate, suggesting that the child may be a resident. See A.G. by Waite,
{20} Public policy supports allowing the exclusion as a means to prevent collusion. For example, insurance contracts will often exclude from coverage liability for bodily injury to residents of the insured household in order to prevent collusion in the filing of insurance claims. 9 Lee R. Russ & Thomas F. Segalla, Couch on Insurance 3d § 128:3 (1997) (hereinafter Couch 3d); A.G. by Waite,
III. CONCLUSION
{21} Because additional facts must be developed to determine whether Emeterio was a resident of the Apodacas’ home, we reverse summary judgment. We remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. Any additional relevant facts that are disputed must be resolved by a fact finder.
{22} IT IS SO ORDERED.
