District Of Columbia § 16-4802 - Definitions.
Full text of District Of Columbia D.C. Code § 16-4802 — Definitions., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 16-4802. Definitions.
16-4802For the purposes of this chapter, the term:
“Alternate standby guardian” means a person with all the rights, responsibilities, and qualifications of a standby guardian who acts as the standby guardian if the current or originally designated standby guardian repudiates the designation, becomes incapacitated, or dies.
“Attending clinician” means a licensed physician or licensed nurse practitioner who:
Has primary responsibility for the treatment and care of a designator;
Shares the responsibility for the treatment and care of a designator, or is acting on behalf of the licensed physician or licensed nurse practitioner who has primary responsibility for the treatment and care of the designator; or
Is familiar with the designator’s medical condition in cases where no licensed physician or licensed nurse practitioner has the responsibility for the treatment and care of a designator.
“Child” means a person under 18 years of age.
“Consent” means a written authorization signed by the designator.
“Court” means the Domestic Relations Branch of the Family Division [Family Court] of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
“Debilitation” means those periods when a person cannot care for that person’s minor child as a result of a chronic condition caused by physical illness, disease, or injury from which, to a reasonable degree of probability, the designator may not recover.
“Designation” means the written naming of a standby guardian by the designator.
“Designator” means a custodial parent, including a person other than a parent who has physical custody of a child and who has been awarded legal custody or guardianship by a court, who has been diagnosed, in writing, by a licensed clinician to suffer from a chronic condition caused by injury, disease, or illness from which, to a reasonable degree of probability, the designator may not recover.
“Determination of incapacity” means a written determination made by the attending clinician that, to a reasonable degree of certainty, a designator is chronically and substantially unable to understand the nature and consequences of decisions concerning the care of a minor child as a result of a mental or organic impairment and is consequently unable to care for the minor child.
“Incapacity” means a chronic and substantial inability, as a result of a mental or organic impairment, to understand the nature and consequences of decisions concerning the care of a minor child, and a consequent inability to care for the minor child.
“Parent” means the biological parent or adoptive mother or father of a child.
“Standby guardian” means a person named by the designator to assume the duties of a legal custodian of a child upon the occurrence of a triggering event.
“Triggering event” means any of the following 3 events:
The designator’s debilitation, with the designator’s written acknowledgement of debilitation and consent to commencement of the standby guardianship;
The designator’s incapacity as determined by an attending clinician; or
The designator’s death.
Annotations
Source: official District Of Columbia text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About District Of Columbia § 16-4802
What does D.C. Code § 16-4802 cover?
Section 16-4802 ("Definitions.") is part of the D.C. Code, the codified statutory law of District Of Columbia. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite District Of Columbia § 16-4802?
A common citation format is "D.C. Code § 16-4802" (District Of Columbia). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of District Of Columbia law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the District Of Columbia official source linked on this page or consult a licensed District Of Columbia attorney.
How does District Of Columbia § 16-4802 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in District Of Columbia can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in District Of Columbia.