- "Abandoned." Left without provision for reasonable and necessary care or supervision.
- "Child." An individual who has not attained 18 years of age.
- "Child custody determination." A judgment, decree or other order of a court providing for 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.
- "Child custody proceeding." A proceeding 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 proceeding involving juvenile delinquency, contractual emancipation or enforcement under Subchapter C (relating to enforcement).
- "Commencement." The filing of the first pleading in a proceeding.
- "Court." An entity authorized under the law of a state to establish, enforce or modify a child custody determination.
- "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 six months of age or younger, the term means the state in which the child lived from birth with any of the persons mentioned. A period of temporary absence of any of the mentioned persons is part of the period.
- "Initial determination." The first child custody determination concerning a particular child.
- "Issuing court." The court that makes a child custody determination for which enforcement is sought under this chapter.
- "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.
- "Person." An individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, government or governmental subdivision, agency or instrumentality, public corporation or any other legal or commercial entity.
"Person acting as a parent." A person, other than a parent, who:
- (1) 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
- (2) has been awarded legal custody by a court or claims a right to legal custody under the laws of this Commonwealth.
- "Physical custody." The physical care and supervision of a child.
- "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.
- "Tribe." A Native American tribe or band, or Alaskan Native village, which is recognized by Federal law or formally acknowledged by a state.
- "Warrant." An order issued by a court authorizing law enforcement officers to take physical custody of a child.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: