Terms Used In California Codes > Family Code > Division 13 > Part 2 > Chapter 4 - Intercountry Adoptions

• Accredited agency: means an agency that has been accredited by an accrediting entity, in accordance with the standards in Subpart F (commencing with Section 96. See California Family Code 8900.5
• Adoption service: means any of the following services:

  California Family Code 8900.5

• Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
• Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
• Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
• Central authority: means the entity designated under paragraph (1) of Article 6 of the convention by a convention country. See California Family Code 8900.5
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Convention: means the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, May 29, 1993. See California Family Code 8900.5
• Convention adoption: means the adoption of a child resident in a convention country by a United States citizen, or an adoption of a child resident in the United States by an individual or individuals residing in a convention country, if, in connection with the adoption, the child has moved or will move between the United States and the convention country. See California Family Code 8900.5
• Convention country: means a country that is party to the convention and with which the convention is in force for the United States. See California Family Code 8900.5
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• County: includes city and county. See California Health and Safety Code 14
• County: includes city and county. See California Family Code 67
• Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
• department: means the State Department of Health Care Services and "director" means the Director of Health Care Services. See California Health and Safety Code 11752
• Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. ^Source:
• Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
• Exempted provider: means a social work professional or organization that performs a home study on any prospective adoptive parent, or a child background study, or both, in the United States in connection with a convention adoption, and who is not currently providing and has not previously provided any other adoption service in the case. See California Family Code 8900.5
• facility: means any premises, place, or building that provides residential nonmedical services to adults who are recovering from problems related to alcohol, drug, or alcohol and drug misuse or abuse, and who need alcohol, drug, or alcohol and drug recovery treatment or detoxification services. See California Health and Safety Code 11834.02
• Hague adoption certificate: means a certificate issued by the secretary in an outgoing case (where the child is emigrating from the United States to another convention country) certifying that a child has been adopted in the United States in accordance with the convention and, except as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 97. See California Family Code 8900.5
• Hague custody declaration: means a declaration issued by the secretary in an outgoing case (where the child is emigrating from the United States to another convention country) declaring that custody of a child for purposes of adoption has been granted in the United States in accordance with the convention and, except as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 97. See California Family Code 8900.5
• Indemnification: In general, a collateral contract or assurance under which one person agrees to secure another person against either anticipated financial losses or potential adverse legal consequences. ^{Source: FDIC}
• Legal service: means any service, other than those defined in this section as an adoption service, that relates to the provision of legal advice and information or to the drafting of legal instruments. See California Family Code 8900.5
• local agency: means any city, county, district, agency, or other political subdivision of the state for the local performance of governmental or proprietary functions within limited boundaries. See California Water Code 10701
• order: include a decree, as appropriate under the circumstances. See California Family Code 100
• Person: includes a natural person, firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation, limited liability company, or public entity. See California Family Code 105
• Petitioner: includes plaintiff, where appropriate. See California Family Code 126
• Primary provider: means the accredited agency that is identified pursuant to Section 96. See California Family Code 8900.5
• Proceeding: includes an action. See California Family Code 110
• Public domestic authority: means an authority operated by a state, local, or tribal government. See California Family Code 8900.5
• Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
• Secretary: means the United States Secretary of State, and includes any official of the United States Department of State exercising the authority of the Secretary of State under the convention, the IAA, or any regulations implementing the IAA, pursuant to a delegation of authority. See California Family Code 8900.5
• State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Water Code 18
• State: means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, or a commonwealth, territory, or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. See California Family Code 145
• Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Water Code 10
• Supervised provider: means any agency, person, or other nongovernmental entity that is providing any adoption service in a convention adoption under the supervision and responsibility of an accredited agency that is acting as the primary provider in the case. See California Family Code 8900.5
• Support: refers to a support obligation owing on behalf of a child, spouse, or family, or an amount owing pursuant to Section 17402. See California Family Code 150
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
• United States: means the United States of America, and in relation to any particular matter includes the officers, agents, employees, agencies, or instrumentalities authorized to act in relation thereto. See California Water Code 20