§ 3901 - Definitions - Vermont Statutes

§ 3901. Definitions

As used in this chapter:

(1) "Order of support" means any judgment or order for the support of dependent children issued by any court of the state of Vermont or another state or an order under an administrative proceeding of another state, including an order in a final decree of divorce.

(2) "Custodial parent" means any person with whom a dependent child actually resides, whether or not the parent is receiving public assistance benefits under chapter 11 of this title, or the commissioner of the Vermont department of social and rehabilitation services if the dependent child is under the care and control of that department.

(3) "Department" means the Vermont department for children and families.

(4) "Dependent child" means any child receiving assistance under chapter 11 of this title or any minor child for whose benefit the office of child support has been authorized and requested to collect support.

(5) "Court" means the family court.

(6) "Public assistance" means money payments furnished to or on behalf of dependent children by the department.

(7) "Responsible parent" means the natural or adoptive parent or stepparent, to the extent the stepparent owes a duty of support under section 296 of Title 15, of a dependent child. (Added 1977, No. 212 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 1985, No. 63, § 16; 1989, No. 221 (Adj. Sess.), § 16, eff. Oct. 1, 1990; 1999, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 114.)