child n pl chil·dren
1: a son or daughter of any age and usu. including one formally adopted compare issue
◇ The word child as used in a statute or will is often held to include a stepchild, an illegitimate child, a person for whom one stands in loco parentis, or sometimes a more remote descendant, such as a grandchild. In interpreting the word child as used in a will, the court will try to effectuate the intent of the person who made the will as it can be determined from the language of the will.
2: a person below an age specified by law: infant minor
assault on a child under 16 years of age compare adult
◇ A person who is below the statutory age but is married will usually be considered an adult.
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.