Colorado

Family Law

Family Law

Section 14-13.5-102 – Definitions

In this article:

(1) “Abduction” means the wrongful removal or wrongful retention of a child.
(2) “Child” means an unemancipated individual who is less than 18 years of age.
(3) “Child-custody determination” means a judgment, decree, or other order of a court providing for the legal custody or physical custody of a child, allocating parental responsibilities with respect to a child, or providing for visitation or parenting time with respect to a child. The term includes a permanent, temporary, initial, and modification order. The term does not include an order relating to child support or other monetary obligation of an individual.
(4) “Child-custody proceeding” means a proceeding in which the legal custody or physical custody of a child, the allocation of parental responsibilities with respect to a child, or visitation or parenting time with respect to a child is at issue. The term includes a proceeding for divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, neglect, abuse, dependency, guardianship, paternity, termination of parental rights, or protection from domestic violence or domestic abuse. The term does not include a proceeding involving juvenile delinquency or contractual emancipation.
(5) “Court” means an entity authorized under the law of a state to establish, enforce, or modify a child-custody determination.
(6) “Petition” includes a motion or its equivalent.
(7) “Record” means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.
(8) “State” means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. The term includes a federally recognized Indian tribe or nation.
(9) “Travel document” means records relating to a travel itinerary, including travel tickets, passes, reservations for transportation, or accommodations. The term does not include a passport or visa.
(10) “Wrongful removal” means the taking of a child that breaches rights of custody or orders concerning the allocation of parental responsibilities or breaches rights of visitation or parenting time given or recognized under the law of this state.
(11) “Wrongful retention” means the keeping or concealing of a child that breaches rights of custody or orders concerning the allocation of parental responsibilities or breaches rights of visitation or parenting time given or recognized under the law of this state.

C.R.S. § 14-13.5-102

L. 2007: Entire article added, p. 767, § 1, effective May 14.

OFFICIAL COMMENT

To the extent possible, the definitions track the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act [section 14-13-101, et. seq., C.R.S.]. The definition of a child as a person under age 18 is the same as in Section 102(2) of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act [section 14-13-102(2), C.R.S.]. State law determines when a child becomes emancipated before age 18. This Act is limited to the abduction of minors even though the risk of abduction may apply to a disabled adult who has an appointed adult guardian.

The definition of “child-custody determination” is the same as the definition in Section 102(3) of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act [section 14-13-102(3), C.R.S.]. This Act uses the traditional terminology of “custody” and “visitation” because that is the language used in the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act although local terminology may differ. The definition of a child-custody proceeding differs insignificantly from Section 102(4) of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act [section 14-13-102(4), C.R.S.].

The definition of abduction covers wrongful removal or wrongful retention. The definition is broad enough to encompass not only an abduction committed by either parent or a person acting on behalf of the parent but also other abductions. Generally both parents have the right to companionship and access to their child unless a court states otherwise. Abductions can occur against an individual or other entity with custody rights, as well as against an individual with visitation or access rights. A parent with joint legal or physical custody rights, by operation of law, court order, or legally binding agreement, commits an abduction by wrongfully interfering with the other parent’s rights. A removal or retention of a child can be “wrongful” predecree or postdecree. An abduction is wrongful where it is in breach of an existing “child-custody determination” or, if predecree, in violation of rights attributed to a person by operation of law. The term “breaches rights of custody” tracks Article 3 of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.