New Jersey § 2a:34-54

§ 2a:34-54.

As used in this act: “ Abandoned ” means left without provision for reasonable and necessary care or supervision. “ Child ” means an individual who has not attained 18 years of age. “ Child custody determination ” means a judgment, decree, or other order of a court providing for the legal custody,

physical custody or visitation with respect to a child. The term includes a permanent, temporary, initial and modification order. The term does not include a provision relating to child support or other monetary

obligation of an individual. “ Child custody proceeding ” means a proceeding in which legal custody, physical custody or visitation with respect

to a child is an issue. The term includes a proceeding for divorce, separation, neglect, abuse, dependency,

guardianship, paternity, termination of parental rights, and protection from domestic

violence, in which the issue may appear. The term does not include a proceeding involving juvenile delinquency, contractual

emancipation or enforcement under article 3 of this act. 1 “ Commencement ” means the filing of the first pleading in a proceeding. “ Court ” means an entity authorized under the law of a state to establish, enforce or modify

a child custody determination. “ Home state ” means the state in which a child lived with a parent or a person acting as a parent

for at least six consecutive months immediately before the commencement of a child

custody proceeding. In the case of a child less than six months of age, the term means the state in

which the child lived from birth with any of the persons mentioned. A period of temporary absence of any of the mentioned persons is part of the period. “ Initial determination ” means the first child custody determination concerning a particular child. “ Issuing court ” means the court that makes a child custody determination for which enforcement is

sought under this act. “ Issuing state ” means the state in which a child custody determination is made. “ Modification ” means a child custody determination that changes, replaces, supersedes, or is otherwise

made after a previous determination concerning the same child, whether or not it is

made by the court that made the previous determination. “ Person ” means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited

liability company, association, joint venture, government, governmental subdivision,

agency, or instrumentality, public corporation or any other legal or commercial entity. “ Person acting as a parent ” means a person, other than a parent, who: a. has physical custody of the child or has had physical custody for a period of six

consecutive months, including any temporary absence, within one year immediately before

the commencement of a child custody proceeding; and b. has been awarded legal custody by a court or claims a right to legal custody under

the laws of this State. “ Physical custody ” means the physical care and supervision of a child. “ 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. “ Tribe ” means an Indian tribe or band, or Alaskan Native village, which is recognized by

federal law or formally acknowledged by a state. “ Warrant ” means an order issued by a court authorizing law enforcement officers to take physical

custody of a child. 1

N.J.S.A. § 2A:34-75 et seq.