As used in this chapter:
- (1) "Abandoned" means left without provision for reasonable and necessary care or supervision.
(2)
- (a) "Child custody determination" means a judgment, decree, or other order of a court providing for the legal custody, physical custody, or parent-time with respect to a minor child.
- (b) "Child custody determination" includes a permanent, temporary, initial, and modification order.
- (c) "Child custody determination" does not include an order relating to child support or other monetary obligation of an individual.
(3)
- (a) "Child custody proceeding" means a proceeding in which legal custody, physical custody, or parent-time with respect to a minor child is an issue.
- (b) "Child custody proceeding" 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.
- (c) "Child custody proceeding" does not include a proceeding involving juvenile delinquency, contractual emancipation, or enforcement under Part 3, Enforcement.
- (4) "Commencement" means the filing of the first pleading in a proceeding.
- (5) "Court" means an entity authorized under the law of a state to establish, enforce, or modify a child custody determination.
(6) "Home state" means:
- (a) if the minor child is six months old or older, the state in which a minor 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, including any period of temporary absence of the parent or the person acting as a parent during that time period; or
- (b) if the minor child is younger than six months old, the state in which the minor child lived from birth with a parent or a person acting as parent, including any period of temporary absence of the parent or the person acting as a parent during that time period.
- (7) "Initial determination" means the first child custody determination concerning a particular minor child.
- (8) "Issuing court" means the court that makes a child custody determination for which enforcement is sought under this chapter.
- (9) "Issuing state" means the state in which a child custody determination is made.
- (10) "Modification" means a child custody determination that changes, replaces, supersedes, or is otherwise made after a previous determination concerning the same minor child, whether or not it is made by the court that made the previous determination.
- (11) "Person" includes government, governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or any other legal or commercial entity.
(12) "Person acting as a parent" means a person, other than a parent, who:
- (a) has physical custody of the minor 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.
- (13) "Physical custody" means the physical care and supervision of a minor child.
- (14) "State" means 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.
- (15) "Tribe" means an Indian tribe, or band, or Alaskan Native village which is recognized by federal law or formally acknowledged by a state.
- (16) "Writ of assistance" means an order issued by a court authorizing law enforcement officers to take physical custody of a minor child.
Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 426, 2025 General Session