In this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
- (1) ABANDONED. Left without provision for reasonable and necessary care or supervision.
- (2) CHILD. An individual who has not attained 19 years of age.
- (3) CHILD CUSTODY DETERMINATION. A judgment, decree, or other order of a court providing for the legal custody, physical custody, or visitation with respect to a child. The term includes a permanent, temporary, initial, and modification order. The term does not include an order relating to child support or other monetary obligation of an individual.
- (4) CHILD CUSTODY PROCEEDING. A proceeding in a court in which legal custody, physical custody, or visitation with respect to a child is an issue. The term includes a proceeding for divorce, separation, neglect, abuse, dependency, guardianship, paternity, termination of parental rights, and protection from domestic violence, in which the issue may appear. The term does not include a court proceeding involving juvenile delinquency, contractual emancipation, adoption, or enforcement under Article 3.
- (5) COMMENCEMENT. The filing of the first pleading in a proceeding.
- (6) COURT. An entity authorized under the law of a state to establish, enforce, or modify a child custody determination.
- (7) HOME STATE. The state in which a child lived with a parent or a person acting as a parent for at least six consecutive months immediately before the commencement of a child custody proceeding. In the case of a child less than six months of age, the term means the state in which the child lived from birth with any of the persons mentioned. A period of temporary absence of the child or any of the mentioned persons is part of the period.
- (8) INITIAL DETERMINATION. The first child custody determination concerning a particular child.
- (9) ISSUING COURT. The court that makes a child custody determination for which enforcement is sought under this chapter.
- (10) ISSUING STATE. The state in which a child custody determination is made.
- (11) MODIFICATION. A child custody determination that changes, replaces, supersedes, or is otherwise made after a previous determination concerning the same child, whether or not it is made by the court that made the previous determination.
- (12) PERSON. An individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, government; governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality; public corporation; or any other legal or commercial entity.
(13) PERSON ACTING AS A PARENT. A person, other than a parent, who:
- a. Has physical custody of the child or has had physical custody for a period of six consecutive months, including any temporary absence, within one year immediately before the commencement of a child custody proceeding; and
- b. Has been awarded legal custody by a court or claims a right to legal custody under the law of this state.
- (14) PHYSICAL CUSTODY. The physical care and supervision of a child.
- (15) STATE. A state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
- (16) WARRANT. An order issued by a court authorizing law enforcement officers to take physical custody of a child.
(Act 99-438, p. 866, §1.)