[Effective 7/1/2024]

As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) “Abandonment”, for purposes of terminating the parental or guardian rights of a parent or a guardian of a child to that child in order to make that child available for adoption, has the same meaning as defined in § 36-1-102;
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 37-2-402 v2

  • Agency: means a child care agency, as defined in title 71, chapter 3, part 5, or in chapter 5, part 5 of this title, regardless of whether such agency is licensed or approved, and includes the department of children's services. See Tennessee Code 37-2-402
  • Board: means an advisory review board appointed by a juvenile court judge, juvenile court judges, or the department of children's services as provided in this part. See Tennessee Code 37-2-402
  • Court: means the juvenile court having jurisdiction over the person of the child, or, if no juvenile court has jurisdiction over the child, then the juvenile court in the county in which the child resides. See Tennessee Code 37-2-402
  • 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.
  • Judge: means a juvenile judge or the judge having jurisdiction over the person of the child. See Tennessee Code 37-2-402
  • 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.
  • Parent: means the natural parent or legal guardian, except in cases when guardianship is held by an agency pursuant to a determination of abandonment or surrender of parental rights. See Tennessee Code 37-2-402
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Report: means a written report by an advisory review board as provided in §. See Tennessee Code 37-2-402
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(2) “Abandonment of an infant” means, for purposes of terminating parental or guardian rights, “abandonment” of a child under one (1) year of age;
(3) “Agency” means a child care agency, as defined in title 71, chapter 3, part 5, or in chapter 5, part 5 of this title, regardless of whether such agency is licensed or approved, and includes the department of children’s services;
(4) “Board” means an advisory review board appointed by a juvenile court judge, juvenile court judges, or the department of children’s services as provided in this part;
(5) “Court” means the juvenile court having jurisdiction over the person of the child, or, if no juvenile court has jurisdiction over the child, then the juvenile court in the county in which the child resides;
(6) “Date of foster care placement” means the original date on which the child is physically placed in foster care;
(7) “Judge” means a juvenile judge or the judge having jurisdiction over the person of the child;
(8) “Parent” means the natural parent or legal guardian, except in cases when guardianship is held by an agency pursuant to a determination of abandonment or surrender of parental rights;
(9) “Plan” or “permanency plan” means a written plan for a child placed in foster care with the department of children’s services or in the care of an agency as defined in subdivision (3) and as provided in § 37-2-403; and
(10) “Report” means a written report by an advisory review board as provided in § 37-2-406 or by the department of children’s services or by an agency having custody of a child as provided in § 37-2-404.
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