# Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-604: Sec. 45a-604. (Formerly Sec. 45-42a). Definitions > Connecticut · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T45a_C802h_S45a-604 ## Section - **Citation:** Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-604 - **Heading:** Sec. 45a-604. (Formerly Sec. 45-42a). Definitions - **Jurisdiction:** Connecticut - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Connecticut Code / Title 45a / Chapter 802h / Section 45a-604 ## Text (1) “Mother” means a woman who is a parent as defined in section 46b-451 ; (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 46b-451 ; (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. Annotations to former section 45-42a: Cited. 193 C. 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 CA 693. Cited. 44 CS 169. ## Nearby sections - [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-593 Sec. 45a-593. (Formerly Sec. 45-58). United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs or successor to be a party in interest. Notice.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T45a_C802h_S45a-593.md) - [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-594 Sec. 45a-594. (Formerly Sec. 45-60). Compensation of guardian or conservator of social services beneficiary or veteran.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T45a_C802h_S45a-594.md) - [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-596 Sec. 45a-596. (Formerly Sec. 45-51). Parental appointment of guardian or coguardian of minor upon death of parents.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T45a_C802h_S45a-596.md) - [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-597 Sec. 45a-597. (Formerly Sec. 45-60a). Payment by guardian or conservator of administration expenses of deceased person.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T45a_C802h_S45a-597.md) - [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-599 Sec. 45a-599. Transfer of guardianship file between Probate Courts.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T45a_C802h_S45a-599.md) - [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-603 Sec. 45a-603. (Formerly Sec. 45-42). Residence of minor defined.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T45a_C802h_S45a-603.md) - [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-604 Sec. 45a-604. (Formerly Sec. 45-42a). Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T45a_C802h_S45a-604.md) - [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-605 Sec. 45a-605. (Formerly Sec. 45-42b). Provisions construed in best interest of minor child.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T45a_C802h_S45a-605.md) - [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-606 Sec. 45a-606. (Formerly Sec. 45-43). Father and mother joint guardians.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T45a_C802h_S45a-606.md) - [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-607 Sec. 45a-607. (Formerly Sec. 45-44). Temporary custody of minor pending application to probate court for removal of guardian or termination of parental rights.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T45a_C802h_S45a-607.md) - [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-608 Sec. 45a-608. (Formerly Sec. 45-44a). Temporary custody of minor. Rights and duties.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T45a_C802h_S45a-608.md) - [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-608n Sec. 45a-608n. Designation of minor child as having special immigrant juvenile status pursuant to pending petition for removal or appointment of guardian.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T45a_C802h_S45a-608n.md) - [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-608o Sec. 45a-608o. Designation of minor child as having special immigrant juvenile status pursuant to pending petition to terminate parental rights or approve adoption.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T45a_C802h_S45a-608o.md) - [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-609 Sec. 45a-609. (Formerly Sec. 45-44b). Application for removal of parent as guardian. Hearing. Notice. Examination.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T45a_C802h_S45a-609.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T45a_C802h_S45a-604. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.