Ariz. Rev. Stat. » Title 8
Arizona Revised Statutes

Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 8-101 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Adult" means a person eighteen years of age or older.

2. "Agency" or "adoption agency" means a person other than the division licensed by the division to place children for adoption, including an attorney or law firm.

3. "Agency placement adoption" means an adoption proceeding in which one or more of the requisite consents are given to an agency pursuant to section 8-107, subsection D, paragraph 1.

4. "Child" means any person under eighteen years of age.

5. "Custody" means a status embodying all of the following rights and responsibilities:

(a) The right to have the physical possession of the child.

(b) The right and the duty to protect, train and discipline the child.

(c) The responsibility to provide the child with food, shelter, education and health care, and the authority to consent to surgery or other extraordinary medical care in an emergency.

6. "Direct placement adoption" means an adoption proceeding in which one or more of the requisite consents are given to a particular person pursuant to section 8-107, subsection D, paragraph 2.

7. "Division" means the department of child safety.

8. "Juvenile court" or "court" means the juvenile division of the superior court.

9. "Permanent guardian" means a legal guardian appointed by the court pursuant to section 8-871.

10. "Petitioner" includes both petitioners under a joint petition.

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 25 cases, 1966–2016 · leading case: State v. Jones, 937 P.2d 310 (Ariz. 1997).
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State v. Jones, 937 P.2d 310 (Ariz. 1997). · cites it 8× “A.R.S. § 8-101. Nothing indicates that the legislature intended this definition to relate to the child abuse statute, and we can think of no reason why the legislature would intend any such connection.”
Frank R. v. Mother Goose Adoptions, 367 P.3d 88 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 4× “See A.R.S. §§ 8-101(3) (defining agency placement adoption); 8-106(A)(5) (acknowledging consent to adopt may be given to adoption agency, which may then place child for adoption); 8-107(D) (providing consent to adopt shall designate an adoption agency or the department of child…”
Chudzinski v. Chudzinski, 546 P.2d 1139 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1976). · cites it 4× “The age of majority was lowered from 21 to 18 on August 13, 1972 by reason of the amendment to A.R.S. § 8-101. See Stanley v. Stanley, 112 Ariz.”
Wilson v. Playa De Serrano, 123 P.3d 1148 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 2× “See former A.R.S. § 8-101, 1970 Ariz. Sess. Laws, ch.”
Alexander M. v. Hon. abrams/ades, 328 P.3d 1045 (Ariz. 2014). · cites it 2× “A.R.S. §§ 8-101(9), -871(B) (defining “permanent guardian” as “a legal guardian appointed by the court pursuant to § 8-525 [now § 8-871], which provides that “[a]n agency or institution may not be a permanent guardian”).”
State v. Poehnelt, 722 P.2d 304 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1985). · cites it 2× “In addition to ordinary dictionary definitions in the event of a genuine question as to the meaning of the term “custody,” it is defined in the Arizona statutes so as to leave no doubt concerning the scope of parental responsibilities.”
Matter of Appeal in Pima Cnty. Etc., 575 P.2d 310 (Ariz. 1978). · cites it 2× “§ 8-122, providing that an appeal in an adoption matter shall be governed by the same provisions applicable to appeals from the Superior Court, was superseded by the issuance of this court's rules governing appeals from the Juvenile Court.”
In re the Appeal in Maricopa Cnty. Juv. Action No. A-25646, 637 P.2d 1092 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1981). · cites it 4× “A.R.S. § 8-101(3), clearly defines the word “child.”
In Re the Appeal in Pima Cnty., Juv. Action No. B-9385, 674 P.2d 845 (Ariz. 1983). · cites it 2× “He con *293 tended that the true intentions of the mother became known to him after the final adoption order, 1 that the marriage was irretrievably broken, that the best interest of the children would not be served by the adoption and that the requirements of A.R.S. § 8-101 et…”
In Re the Appeal in Pima Cnty. Juv. Action B-10489, 727 P.2d 830 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1986). · cites it 4× “A.R.S. § 8-101(2). There is no showing that appointed counsel in this case was such an "agency.”
In Re the Appeal in Maricopa Cnty. Juv. Action No. A-27789, 680 P.2d 143 (Ariz. 1984). · cites it 2× “The Collinses appealed the dismissal of the Yavapai County dependency proceedings.”
Corbett v. Corbett, 569 P.2d 292 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1977). · cites it 2× “The 1972 amendments to A.R.S. § 8-101, effective August 13, 1972, reduced the age of majority from twenty-one years to eighteen years.”
Show all 25 citing cases →
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 8-101(1) — 1 case
In Re the Adoption of A.R., A.-R., & -A.-R., 387 P.3d 1285 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2016).
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 8-101(2) — 1 case
In Re the Appeal in Pima Cnty. Juv. Action B-10489, 727 P.2d 830 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1986). “A.R.S. § 8-101(2). There is no showing that appointed counsel in this case was such an "agency.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 8-101(3) — 2 cases
Frank R. v. Mother Goose Adoptions, 367 P.3d 88 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2016). “See A.R.S. §§ 8-101(3) (defining agency placement adoption); 8-106(A)(5) (acknowledging consent to adopt may be given to adoption agency, which may then place child for adoption); 8-107(D) (providing consent to adopt shall designate an adoption agency or the department of child…”
In re the Appeal in Maricopa Cnty. Juv. Action No. A-25646, 637 P.2d 1092 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1981). “A.R.S. § 8-101(3), clearly defines the word “child.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 8-101(4) — 2 cases
State v. Poehnelt, 722 P.2d 304 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1985). “In addition to ordinary dictionary definitions in the event of a genuine question as to the meaning of the term “custody,” it is defined in the Arizona statutes so as to leave no doubt concerning the scope of parental responsibilities.”
Hindsley v. Hindsley, 701 P.2d 1236 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1985).
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 8-101(5) — 2 cases
State v. Jones, 937 P.2d 310 (Ariz. 1997). “A.R.S. § 8-101. Nothing indicates that the legislature intended this definition to relate to the child abuse statute, and we can think of no reason why the legislature would intend any such connection.”
State v. Swanson, 908 P.2d 8 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1995).
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 8-101(6) — 4 cases
Matter of Appeal in Pima Cnty. Etc., 575 P.2d 310 (Ariz. 1978). “§ 8-122, providing that an appeal in an adoption matter shall be governed by the same provisions applicable to appeals from the Superior Court, was superseded by the issuance of this court's rules governing appeals from the Juvenile Court.”
In Re the Appeal in Maricopa Cnty. Juv. Action No. A-27789, 680 P.2d 143 (Ariz. 1984). “The Collinses appealed the dismissal of the Yavapai County dependency proceedings.”
In re the Appeal in Maricopa Cnty. Juv. Action No. A-25646, 637 P.2d 1092 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1981). “A.R.S. § 8-101(3), clearly defines the word “child.”
Clark v. Curran, 575 P.2d 310 (Ariz. 1978).
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 8-101(8) — 1 case
Roberto F. v. Dep't of Child Saf., 332 P.3d 614 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2014).
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 8-101(9) — 1 case
Alexander M. v. Hon. abrams/ades, 328 P.3d 1045 (Ariz. 2014). “A.R.S. §§ 8-101(9), -871(B) (defining “permanent guardian” as “a legal guardian appointed by the court pursuant to § 8-525 [now § 8-871], which provides that “[a]n agency or institution may not be a permanent guardian”).”
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