As amended through October 31, 2024
(a) "Agency" means any person certified, licensed or otherwise specially empowered by law or regulation to place minors for adoption. (b) "Child" means a son or daughter, whether by birth or adoption. (c) "Consent" means the written giving of permission to an adoption in accordance with AS 25.23.060. (d) "Extended family member" means a person as defined by the law or custom of the Indian child's tribe, or, in the absence of such a law or custom, means a person who has reached the age of eighteen and who is the Indian child's grandparent, aunt or uncle, brother or sister, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, niece or nephew, first or second cousin, or stepparent. (e) "Guardian ad litem" means a person appointed by the court to represent the best interests of the child in an adoption proceeding. (f) "Indian" means any person who is a member of an Indian tribe, or who is an Alaska Native and a member of a regional corporation as defined in 43 U.S.C. Section 1606. (g) "Indian child" means any unmarried person who is under the age of 18 and who is either (a) a member of an Indian tribe, or (b) is eligible for membership in an Indian tribe and is the biological child of a member of an Indian tribe. (h) "Indian child's tribe" means (a) the Indian tribe in which an Indian child is a member or eligible for membership, or (b), in the case of an Indian child who is a member of or eligible for membership in more than one tribe, the Indian tribe with which the Indian child has the more significant contacts. (i) "Indian custodian" means any Indian person who has legal custody of an Indian child under tribal law or custom or under state law, or to whom temporary physical care, custody and control has been transferred by the parent of the child. (j) "Indian tribe" means any Indian tribe, band, nation or other organized group or community of Indians recognized as eligible for services provided to Indians by the Secretary of the Department of the Interior because of their status as Indians, including an Alaska Native village as defined in 43 U.S.C. Section 1602(c). (k) "Judge" means a superior court judge, a standing master or a district court judge or magistrate judge appointed as a special master pursuant to Adoption Rule 3. (l) "Minor" means a person who has not reached the age of majority. (m) "Parent" means a biological or adoptive parent. (n) "Parties" means the petitioners, person to be adopted, the parents of the person to be adopted, anyone who has a right to consent under AS 25.23.040, a guardian ad litem, and any person or entity who has intervened. (o) "Relinquishment" means a written surrender of parental rights in compliance with AS 25.23.180. SCO 972 effective 1/15/1990; amended by SCO 1084 effective 1/15/1992; amended by SCO 1829 effective 10/15/2014.