Terms Used In Arizona Laws > Title 25 > Chapter 1 - Marriage

• Abuse: means the infliction or allowing of physical injury, impairment of bodily function or disfigurement or the infliction of or allowing another person to cause serious emotional damage as evidenced by severe anxiety, depression, withdrawal or untoward aggressive behavior and which emotional damage is diagnosed by a medical doctor or psychologist and is caused by the acts or omissions of an individual who has the care, custody and control of a child. See Arizona Laws 8-201
• adoption agency: means a person other than the division licensed by the division to place children for adoption, including an attorney or law firm. See Arizona Laws 8-101
• Adult: means a person eighteen years of age or older. See Arizona Laws 8-101
• Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
• Child: means any person under eighteen years of age. See Arizona Laws 8-101
• court: means the juvenile division of the superior court. See Arizona Laws 8-101
• Custody: means a status embodying all of the following rights and responsibilities:

  (a) The right to have the physical possession of the child. See Arizona Laws 8-101

• Department: means the department of child safety. See Arizona Laws 8-201
• Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
• Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
• Juvenile court: means the juvenile division of the superior court when exercising its jurisdiction over children in any proceeding relating to delinquency, dependency or incorrigibility. See Arizona Laws 8-201
• Magistrate judges: Judicial officers who assist U.S. district judges in getting cases ready for trial, who may decide some criminal and civil trials when both parties agree to have the case heard by a magistrate judge instead of a judge.
• Petition: means a written statement of the essential facts that allege delinquency, incorrigibility or dependency. See Arizona Laws 8-201
• Petitioner: includes both petitioners under a joint petition. See Arizona Laws 8-101
• Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.