§ 3B:12-69 — Definitions.

3. As used in P.L.1995, c.76 (C.3B:12-67 et seq.): "Activating event" means an event stated in the petition or decree that empowers the standby guardian to assume the duties of the office. Activating events include, but are not limited to: the appointment of a standby guardian by a court of competent jurisdiction; the parent's, custodian's, or guardian's attending physician concludes that the parent, custodian, or guardian is incapacitated; the parent's, custodian's, or guardian's attending physician concludes that the parent, custodian, or guardian is debilitated; the parent, custodian, or guardian is subject to immigration administrative action; the parent, custodian, or guardian is subject to criminal proceedings; the parent, custodian, or guardian is in military service; or the death of the parent, custodian, or guardian in circumstances in which no testamentary guardianship or other more permanent care arrangement has been made for the minor child or minor ward; provided, however, that in no case shall a power of attorney triggered by the death of a parent, guardian, or custodian extend beyond the year that the power of attorney is in effect. "Appointed standby guardian" means a person appointed pursuant to section 6 of P.L.1995, c.76 (C.3B:12-72) to assume the duties of guardian over the person and, when applicable, the property of a minor child or minor ward upon an activating event. "Attending physician" means the physician who has primary responsibility for the treatment and care for the petitioning parent, custodian, or guardian. When more than one physician shares this responsibility, or when a physician is acting on the primary physician's behalf, any such physician may act as the attending physician pursuant to this act. When no physician has this responsibility, a physician who is familiar with the petitioner's medical condition may act as the attending physician pursuant to P.L.1995, c.76 (C.3B:12-67 et seq.). "Criminal proceeding" means any incarceration on criminal charges, including pending charges, or a criminal sentence that separates a parent, custodian, or guardian from a minor child or minor ward. "Custodian" means a person, other than a parent, who has been granted legal and physical custody of a minor child by a court of competent jurisdiction. "Debilitated" means the parent, custodian, or guardian has a chronic and substantial inability, as a result of a physically debilitating illness, disease, or injury, to care for the parent's, custodian's, or guardian's minor child or minor ward. "Guardian" means a person who has qualified as a guardian of the person of a minor pursuant to court appointment, including, but not limited to, a kinship legal guardian, but does not mean a person who is serving only as a guardian ad litem. "Immigration administrative action" means any immigration proceeding, enforcement action, detention, removal, or deportation that separates a parent, custodian, or guardian from a minor child or ward. "Incapacitated" means the parent, custodian, or guardian is impaired by reason of mental illness, intellectual disability, physical illness or disability, substance use disorder, or other cause, except minority, to the extent that the person lacks sufficient capacity to manage the affairs of and provide care for the parent's, custodian's, or guardian's minor child or minor ward. "Military service" means duty by any person in the active military service of the United States or the active military service of the State, including in the National Guard or State Guard, that separates a parent, custodian, or guardian from a minor child or minor ward. "Minor child" means a child under the age of 18 years but excludes a child residing in a placement funded or approved by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families pursuant to either a voluntary placement agreement or court order. "Minor ward" means a minor for whom a guardian is appointed. L.1995, c.76, s.3; amended 2006, c.47, s.30; 2012, c.16, s.12; 2021, c.192, s.3; 2023, c.177, s.16.