§ 7-102. Definitions.
A. “Adult” means an individual who has attained the age of eighteen (18) years or an emancipated minor.
B. “Contested proceeding” means any proceeding in which an interested party enters an appearance to contest the petition.
C. “Guardian” means an individual, other than a parent, appointed by a Court to be the guardian of the person of a minor.
D. “Minor” means any person who has not attained the age of eighteen (18) years of age.
E. “Parent” means an individual who is the biological or adoptive parent of a child or who is legally recognized as a mother or father of a child. The term “parent” does not include an individual whose parental relationship to a child has been terminated.
F. “Permanent relinquishment” means the voluntary surrender of the rights of the parent or guardian with respect to a minor, including legal and physical custody of the minor to the Indian Child Welfare Department or any person with the assent of the Court, by a minor’s parent or guardian, for the purposes of the minor’s adoption; and
G. “Step parent” means an individual who is the spouse or surviving spouse of a parent of a minor but who is not a legal parent of the minor.