{"data":{"id":"us-ak/as-25.23.240","jurisdiction":"us-ak","citation":"AS 25.23.240","heading":"Definitions.","body":"In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires,\n(1) “adult” means an individual who has reached the age of majority;\n(2) “agency” means any person certified, licensed, or otherwise specially empowered by law or regulation to place minors for adoption;\n(3) “child” means a son or daughter, whether by birth or by adoption;\n(4) “commissioner” means the commissioner of family and community services;\n(5) “court” means the superior court of this state, and, when the context requires, the court of another state empowered to grant petitions for adoption or guardianship or to terminate parental rights;\n(6) “department” means the Department of Family and Community Services;\n(7) “hard-to-place child” means a minor who is not likely to be adopted or to obtain a guardian by reason of physical or mental disability, emotional disturbance, recognized high risk of physical or mental disease, age, membership in a sibling group, racial or ethnic factors, or any combination of these conditions;\n(8) “minor” means a person who has not reached the age of majority;\n(9) “sexual abuse of a minor” means a sexual offense defined in AS 11.41.434, 11.41.436, 11.41.438, or 11.41.440;\n(10) “sexual assault” means a sexual offense defined in AS 11.41.410 — 11.41.427;\n(11) “stepparent” means the spouse of a natural parent of the child residing in the same household.","path":["Title 25. Marital and Domestic Relations.","Chapter 23. Adoption."],"source_url":"https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#25.23.240","current_through":"Alaska Statutes 2025 (34th Legislature, 2025-2026)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-02T06:17:56Z","sha256":"3c00b31f7ace8ec5ce2c463e442b88c70620dea9559f2c75cdef4e70e8390552","source_id":"us-ak","stale":false,"prev":"us-ak/as-25.23.230","next":"us-ak/as-25.24.010"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}