Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-604

Current with legislation from the 2024 Regular and Special Sessions.

Section 45a-604 - (Formerly Sec. 45-42a). Definitions

As used in sections 45a-603 to 45a-622, inclusive:

(1) "Mother" means a woman who is a parent as defined in section 2 of this act;

(2) "Father" means a man who is a parent as defined in section 46b-451;

(3) "Parent" has the same meaning as provided in section 2 of this act;

(4) "Minor" or "minor child" means a person under the age of eighteen;

(5) "Guardianship" means guardianship of the person of a minor, and includes:

(A) The obligation of care and control;

(B) the authority to make major decisions affecting the minor's education and welfare, including, but not limited to, consent determinations regarding marriage, enlistment in the armed forces and major medical, psychiatric or surgical treatment; and

(C) upon the death of the minor, the authority to make decisions concerning funeral arrangements and the disposition of the body of the minor;

(6) "Guardian" means a person who has the authority and obligations of "guardianship", as defined in subdivision (5) of this section;

(7) "Termination of parental rights" means the complete severance by court order of the legal relationship, with all its rights and responsibilities, between the child and the child's parent or parents so that the child is free for adoption, except that it shall not affect the right of inheritance of the child or the religious affiliation of the child;

(8) "Permanent guardianship" means a guardianship, as defined in subdivision (5) of this section, that is intended to endure until the minor reaches the age of majority without termination of the parental rights of the minor's parents; and

(9) "Permanent guardian" means a person who has the authority and obligations of a permanent guardianship, as defined in subdivision (8) of this section.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-604

(P.A. 79-460, S. 1; P.A. 81-472, S. 100, 159; P.A. 96-130 , S. 1 ; P.A. 99-84 , S. 4 ; P.A. 00-5 ; 00-157 , S. 7 , 8 ; 00-196 , S. 31 ; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1 , S. 274 .)

Amended by P.A. 22-0037, S. 18 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2022 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2022.

Amended by P.A. 21-0015, S. 105 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2021 Regular Session, eff. 1/1/2022.

Amended by P.A. 12-0001, S. 274 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2012 Special Session, eff. 10/1/2012.

Annotations to former section 45-42a: Cited. 193 Conn. 393 . Cited. 6 CA 707 . Annotations to present section: Cited. 231 C. 1 . Taken together, under Subdiv. (5) and Secs. 45a-605(a) and 45a-606 , authority to make major decisions affecting child's welfare intended to effectuate child's best interest includes authority to make legal decisions on behalf of the minor and would include, in this case, authority to assert child's legal rights in a court of law. 76 Conn.App. 693 . Cited. 44 Conn.Supp. 169 .