Missouri Laws 210.481 – Definitions
As used in sections 210.481 to 210.536, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following terms shall mean:
(1) “Child”, any individual under eighteen years of age or in the custody of the division;
Terms Used In Missouri Laws 210.481
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- following: when used by way of reference to any section of the statutes, mean the section next preceding or next following that in which the reference is made, unless some other section is expressly designated in the reference. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- 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.
- Guardian: if used in a section in a context relating to property rights or obligations, means conservator of the estate as defined in chapter 475. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
- person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- State: when applied to any of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
(2) “Child placing agency”, any person, other than the parents, who places a child outside the home of the child’s parents or guardian, or advertises or holds himself forth as performing such services, but excluding the attorney, physician, or clergyman of the parents;
(3) “Division”, the children’s division of the department of social services of the state of Missouri;
(4) “Foster home”, a private residence of one or more family members providing twenty-four-hour care to one or more but less than seven children who are unattended by parent or guardian and who are unrelated to either foster parent by blood, marriage, or adoption;
(5) “Guardian”, the person designated by a court of competent jurisdiction as the “guardian of the person of a minor” or “guardian of the person and conservator of the estate of a minor”;
(6) “License”, the document issued by the division in accordance with the applicable provisions of sections 210.481 to 210.536 to a foster home, residential care facility, or child placing agency which authorizes the foster home, residential care facility, or child placing agency to operate its program in accordance with the applicable provisions of sections 210.481 to 210.536 and rules issued pursuant thereto;
(7) “Person”, any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, association, agency, or an incorporated or unincorporated organization, regardless of the name used;
(8) “Provisional license”, the document issued by the division in accordance with the applicable provisions of sections 210.481 to 210.536 to a foster home, residential care facility, or child placing agency which is not currently meeting requirements for full licensure;
(9) “Related”, any of the following by blood, marriage, or adoption: Parent, grandparent, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, stepparent, stepbrother, stepsister, uncle, aunt, or first cousin;
(10) “Residential care facility”, a facility providing twenty-four-hour care in a group setting to children who are unrelated to the person operating the facility and who are unattended by a parent or guardian.