N.D. Cent. Code § 27-20.6-01 (2025)
As used in this chapter:
1. "Child" means an individual under the age of eighteen.
2. "Custodian" means a person, other than a genetic parent or legal guardian, which stands in loco parentis to the child and to which legal custody of the child has been given by the court.
3. "Department" means the department of health and human services.
4. "Division of juvenile services" means the division within the department of corrections and rehabilitation established in chapter 27-21.
5. "Genetic parent" means the biological mother or adjudicated mother of the child, or the presumed father or adjudicated father of the child under chapter 14-20.
6. "Human service zone" means a county or consolidated group of counties administering human services within a designated area in accordance with an agreement or plan approved by the department.
7. "Parental rights and responsibilities" means all rights and responsibilities a genetic parent has concerning the parent's child.
8. "Re-establishment of the legal parent and child relationship" means the physical reunification of a child under the custody of the human service zone or division of juvenile services, and a previously terminated genetic parent, and restoration of all rights, powers, privileges, immunities, duties, and obligations that were severed and terminated by the court under section 27-20.3-20.