The Vermont Statutes Online
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
NOTE: The online version of the Vermont Statutes does NOT yet include the actions of the 2023 legislative session. The 2023 updates should be available by the end of October.
Title 14 : Decedents Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Chapter 111 : GUARDIANSHIP
Subchapter 002 : PERSONS FOR WHOM GUARDIANS APPOINTED
(Cite as: 14 V.S.A. § 2661)-
§ 2661. Definitions
For the purposes of this article:
(1) “Best interests of the child” means a determination, based on consideration of all relevant factors and available options, of circumstances that will best provide the child with at a minimum all the following:
(A) Adequate food.
(B) Clothing.
(C) Health care.
(D) Any other material needs.
(E) A safe and nurturing environment that meets the child’s present and future developmental needs and promotes appropriate interactions and relationships with family members, foster family, and other people who will play a constructive role in the child’s life.
(F) Support to help the child adjust to home, school, and community.
(2) “Parent” means the parent or parents of a minor.
(3) “Permanent guardian” means one or two adults appointed by the court to act as a parent for a child during the child’s minority.
(4) “Permanent guardianship” means a legal guardianship of a minor that is intended to continue with the same guardian, based on the guardian’s express commitment, for the duration of the child’s minority.
(5) “Relative” means a grandparent, great-grandparent, sibling, first cousin, aunt, uncle, great-aunt, great-uncle, niece, or nephew of a person, whether related to the person by the whole or the half blood, affinity, or adoption. The term does not include a person’s stepparent. (Added 1999, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 2.)
