- parens patriae
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par·ens pat·ri·ae /'par-ənz-'pa-trē-ˌē, -'pā-, -trē-ˌī; 'pär-ens-'pä-trē-ˌī/ n [Latin, parent of the country]: the state in its capacity as the legal guardian of persons not sui juris and without natural guardians, as the heir to persons without natural heirs, and as the protector of all citizens unable to protect themselvesbecause the State is supposed to proceed in respect of the child as parens patriae and not as adversary — Kent v. United States, 383 U.S. 541 (1966)
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.
- parens patriae
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n.(Latin) Parent of the country; the doctrine that it is the role of the government to look out for those who cannot take care of themselves.
The Essential Law Dictionary. — Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Amy Hackney Blackwell. 2008.
- parens patriae
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the jurisdiction of the court to assume responsibility for the welfare of those otherwise unprovided for, such as children or lunatics, regardless of whether there is statutory power (statutory authority).
Collins dictionary of law. W. J. Stewart. 2001.
- parens patriae
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(par-ens pa-tree-ee) Latin for "parent of his or her country." The power of the state to act as guardian for those who are unable to care for themselves, such as children or disabled individuals. For example, under this doctrine a judge may change custody, child support, or other rulings affecting a child's well-being, regardless of what the parents may have agreed to.Category: Divorce & Family Law → Divorce, Child Support & CustodyCategory: Small Claims Court & Lawsuits
Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. Gerald N. Hill, Kathleen Thompson Hill. 2009.
- parens patriae
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n. Latin Parent of his or her country. The state, in its role of provider of protection to people unable to care for themselves; a doctrine giving the government standing to sue on behalf of a citizen who is unable to pursue an action due to a legal disability.
Webster's New World Law Dictionary. Susan Ellis Wild. 2000.
- parens patriae
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(Latin: Parent of the country.)A doctrine that grants the inherent power and authority of the state to protect persons who are legally unable to act on their own behalf.
Dictionary from West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005.
- parens patriae
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I
[Latin, Parent of the country.] A doctrine that grants the inherent power and authority of the state to protect persons who are legally unable to act on their own behalf.II Power of guardianship over persons under disability. The doctrine under which the court protects the interests of a juvenile.
Short Dictionary of (mostly American) Legal Terms and Abbreviations.
- parens patriae
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[paa-rens pat-tree-eye]n.Latin for "father of his country," the term for the doctrine that the government is the ultimate guardian of all people under a disability, especially children, whose care is only "entrusted" to their parents. Under this doctrine, in a divorce action or a guardianship application the court retains jurisdiction until the child is 18 years old, and a judge may change custody, child support or other rulings affecting the child's well-being, no matter what the parents may have agreed or the court previously decided.
Law dictionary. EdwART. 2013.
