Terms Used In New Hampshire Revised Statutes > Chapter 170-C - Termination of Parental Rights

• 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.
• Armed forces: means the United States Army, Army Reserve, Navy, Naval Reserve, Marine Corps, Marine Corps Reserve, Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Space Force, Coast Guard, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, and the Air National Guard. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:50
• Authorized agency: means the New Hampshire department of health and human services or a licensed child-placing agency. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 170-C:2
• Child: or "minor" means a person less than 18 years of age. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 170-C:2
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• Court: means the probate court. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 170-C:2
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
• following: when used by way of reference to any section of these laws, shall mean the section next preceding or following that in which such reference is made, unless some other is expressly designated. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:13
• 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 ad litem: means a person appointed by the court to protect the interest of a minor or an incompetent in a case before the court. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 170-C:2
• Guardianship of the person: with respect to a minor means the duty and authority to make important decisions in matters having a permanent effect on the life and development of the minor, and to be concerned about the general welfare of the minor. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 170-C:2
• 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.
• Legal custody: means a status created by court order, embodying the following rights and responsibilities:
  (a) The right to have the physical possession of the child;
  (b) The right and the duty to protect, train and discipline the child; and
  (c) The responsibility to provide the child with food, clothing, shelter, education and ordinary medical care, provided that such rights and responsibilities shall be exercised subject to the powers, rights, duties and responsibilities of the guardian of the person and subject to residual parental rights and responsibilities if these have not been terminated by judicial decree. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 170-C:2
• minor: means a person less than 18 years of age. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 170-C:2
• Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
• Parent: means (a) the mother, (b) a father as to whom a child is legitimate, (c) a person as to whom a child is presumed to be a legitimate child, (d) an alleged father who is living with the mother and child or who has complied with the provisions of N. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 170-C:2
• Parties: includes the child, the petitioners, and the child's parents. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 170-C:2
• person: may extend and be applied to bodies corporate and politic as well as to individuals. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:9
• petition: when used in connection with the equity jurisdiction of the superior court, and referring to a document filed with the court, shall mean complaint, and "petitioner" shall mean plaintiff. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:51
• petitioner: shall mean plaintiff. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:51
• Probate: Proving a will
• Residual parental rights and responsibilities: means those rights and responsibilities remaining with the parent (where there has not been termination of the parent-child relationship by judicial decree) after the transfer of legal custody and guardianship of the person, including but not necessarily limited to, the right to reasonable visitation, consent to adoption, the right to determine the child's religious affiliation, and the responsibility for support. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 170-C:2
• state: when applied to different parts of the United States, may extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories, so called; and the words "United States" shall include said district and territories. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:4
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• United States: shall include said district and territories. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:4