is the legally responsible parent, blood relative, adoptive relative or agency. Also known as the caretaker relative, custodial relative, custodian, obligee, government agency (for foster care cases) or, on ACSES, as the recipient/applicant and abbreviated as R/A.

The person who has primary care, custody, and control of the child(ren).

The person having primary custody and control of the children and receiving or has received services under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act.

The person who has primary care, custody, and control over a child.

The person or entity legally appointed to have primary care, custody, and control of the children. Typically this is the custodial parent, but it could be a guardian, foster parent or even state agency, such as the Vermont Department of Social Welfare. (For purposes of readability, the term "custodial parent" is used in this handbook to refer to any custodial party.)

Person with whom the child primarily resides and to whom the other parent owes a duty of child support; may be a parent, other relative or someone else.

Person with primary care and control over the child; may be a parent, other relative, or someone else.