Rule 2. Definitions

(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.

ild 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.

Cross References

(f) CROSS REFERENCE: 25 U.S.C. § 1903(3).

(g) CROSS REFERENCE: 25 U.S.C. § 1903(4).

(h) CROSS REFERENCE: 25 U.S.C. § 1903(5).