As used in this chapter the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings unless the context shall indicate another or different meaning or intent: (1) 'Abandoned' means left without provision for reasonable and necessary care or supervision; (2) 'Child' means an individual who has not attained eighteen (18) years of age; (3) 'Child custody determination' means 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' means 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 tal 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 this chapter; (5) 'Commencement' means the filing of the first pleading in a proceeding; (6) 'Court' means the family court of the State of Rhode Island unless another meaning is so indicated; (7) 'Home state' means the state in which a child lived with a parent or a person acting as a parent for at least six (6) consecutive months immediately before the commencement of a child custody proceeding. In the case of a child less than six (6) 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 any of the mentioned persons is part of the period; (8) 'Initial determination' means the first child custody determination concerning a particular child; (9) 'Issuing court' means the court that makes a child custody determination for which enforcement is sought under this chapter; (10) 'Issuing state' means the state in which a child custody determination is made; (11) 'Modification' means a child custody ustody determination for which enforcement is sought under this chapter; (10) 'Issuing state' means the state in which a child custody determination is made; (11) 'Modification' means a child custody determination that changes, replaces, supercedes, 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' means 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' means a person, other than a parent, who: (i) Has physical custody of the child or has had physical custody for a period of six (6) consecutive months, including any temporary absence, within one year immediately before the commencement of a child custody proceeding; and (ii) Has been awarded legal custody by a court or claims a right to legal custody under the law of this state. (14) 'Physical custody' means the physical care and supervision of a child; (15) 'State' means a state awarded legal custody by a court or claims a right to legal custody under the law of this state. (14) 'Physical custody' means the physical care and supervision of a child; (15) '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; (16) 'Tribe' means an Indian tribe or band, or Alaskan Native village, which is recognized by federal law or formally acknowledged by a state; (17) 'Warrant' means an order issued by a court authorizing law enforcement officers to take physical custody of a child. History of Section.P.L. 2003, ch. 307, § 2; P.L. 2003, ch. 322, § 2; P.L. 2021, ch. 77, § 13, effective June 23, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 78, § 13, effective June 23, 2021.
Rhode Island Legal Code