2010 California Code
Probate Code
Chapter 1. Short Title And Definitions

1400.  The portion of this division consisting of Part 1 (commencing
with Section 1400), Part 2 (commencing with Section 1500), Part 3
(commencing with Section 1800), and Part 4 (commencing with Section
2100) may be cited as the Guardianship-Conservatorship Law.



1401.  Unless the provision or context otherwise requires, the
definitions in this chapter govern the construction of this division.



1403.  "Absentee" means either of the following:
   (a) A member of a uniformed service covered by United States Code,
Title 37, Chapter 10, who is determined thereunder by the secretary
concerned, or by the authorized delegate thereof, to be in missing
status as missing status is defined therein.
   (b) An employee of the United States government or an agency
thereof covered by United States Code, Title 5, Chapter 55,
Subchapter VII, who is determined thereunder by the head of the
department or agency concerned, or by the authorized delegate
thereof, to be in missing status as missing status is defined
therein.


1418.  "Court," when used in connection with matters in the
guardianship or conservatorship proceeding, means the court in which
such proceeding is pending.


1419.  "Court investigator" means the person referred to in Section
1454.


1419.5.  "Custodial parent" means the parent who either (a) has been
awarded sole legal and physical custody of the child in another
proceeding, or (b) with whom the child resides if there is currently
no operative custody order. If the child resides with both parents,
then they are jointly the custodial parent.



1420.  "Developmental disability" means a disability which
originates before an individual attains age 18, continues, or can be
expected to continue, indefinitely, and constitutes a substantial
handicap for such individual. As defined by the Director of
Developmental Services, in consultation with the Superintendent of
Public Instruction, this term includes mental retardation, cerebral
palsy, epilepsy, and autism. This term also includes handicapping
conditions found to be closely related to mental retardation or to
require treatment similar to that required for mentally retarded
individuals, but does not include other handicapping conditions that
are solely physical in nature.



1424.  "Interested person" includes, but is not limited to:
   (a) Any interested state, local, or federal entity or agency.
   (b) Any interested public officer or employee of this state or of
a local public entity of this state or of the federal government.




1430.  "Petition" includes an application or request in the nature
of a petition.



1431.  "Proceedings to establish a limited conservatorship" include
proceedings to modify or revoke the powers or duties of a limited
conservator.


1440.  "Secretary concerned" has the same meaning as provided in
United States Code, Title 37, Section 101.



1446.  "Single-premium deferred annuity" means an annuity offered by
an admitted life insurer for the payment of a one-time lump-sum
premium and for which the insurer neither assesses any initial
charges or administrative fees against the premium paid nor exacts or
assesses any penalty for withdrawal of any funds by the annuitant
after a period of five years.



1449.  (a) As used in this division, unless the context otherwise
requires, the terms "Indian," "Indian child," "Indian child's tribe,"
"Indian custodian," "Indian tribe," "reservation," and "tribal court"
shall be defined as provided in Section 1903 of the Indian Child
Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.).
   (b) When used in connection with an Indian child custody
proceeding, the terms "extended family member" and "parent" shall be
defined as provided in Section 1903 of the Indian Child Welfare Act
(25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.).
   (c) "Indian child custody proceeding" means a "child custody
proceeding" within the meaning of Section 1903 of the Indian Child
Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.), including a voluntary or
involuntary proceeding that may result in an Indian child's temporary
or long-term foster care or guardianship placement if the parent or
Indian custodian cannot have the child returned upon demand,
termination of parental rights or adoptive placement.
   (d) When an Indian child is a member of more than one tribe or is
eligible for membership in more than one tribe, the court shall make
a determination, in writing together with the reasons for it, as to
which tribe is the Indian child's tribe for purposes of the Indian
child custody proceeding. The court shall make that determination as
follows:
   (1) If the Indian child is or becomes a member of only one tribe,
that tribe shall be designated as the Indian child's tribe, even
though the child is eligible for membership in another tribe.
   (2) If an Indian child is or becomes a member of more than one
tribe, or is not a member of any tribe but is eligible for membership
in more than one tribe, the tribe with which the child has the more
significant contacts shall be designated as the Indian child's tribe.
In determining which tribe the child has the more significant
contacts with, the court shall consider, among other things, the
following factors:
   (A) The length of residence on or near the reservation of each
tribe and frequency of contact with each tribe.
   (B) The child's participation in activities of each tribe.
   (C) The child's fluency in the language of each tribe.
   (D) Whether there has been a previous adjudication with respect to
the child by a court of one of the tribes.
   (E) The residence on or near one of the tribes' reservations by
the child parents, Indian custodian, or extended family members.
    (F) Tribal membership of custodial parent or Indian custodian.
   (G) Interest asserted by each tribe in response to the notice
specified in Section 1460.2.
   (H) The child's self-identification.
   (3) If an Indian child becomes a member of a tribe other than the
one designated by the court as the Indian child's tribe under
paragraph (2), actions taken based on the court's determination prior
to the child's becoming a tribal member shall continue to be valid.