Section 17.1.
Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 17.1.
in effectUnless otherwise provided under this code, including, but not limited to, Sections 366.31 and 375, and to the extent not in conflict with federal law, the residence of a minor person, or a nonminor dependent, as described in subdivision (v) of Section 11400, shall be determined by the following rules:
(a)
The residence of the parent with whom a child maintains their place of abode or the residence of any individual who has been appointed legal guardian or the individual who has been given the care or custody by a court of competent jurisdiction, determines the residence of the child.
(b)
Wherever in this section it is provided that the residence of a
child is determined by the residence of the person who has custody, “custody” means the legal right to custody of the child unless that right is held jointly by two or more persons, in which case “custody” means the physical custody of the child by one of the persons sharing the right to custody.
(c)
The residence of a foundling shall be deemed to be that of the county in which the child is found.
(d)
If the residence of the child is not determined under subdivision (a), (b), (c), or (e), the county in which the child is living shall be deemed the county of residence, if and when the child has had a physical presence in the county for
one year.
(e)
If the child has been declared permanently free from the custody and control of their parents, the child’s residence is the county in which the court issuing the order is situated.
(f)
If a nonminor dependent under the dependency jurisdiction or transition jurisdiction of the juvenile court is placed in a planned permanent living arrangement, as described in subdivision (i) of Section 366.3, the county in which the nonminor dependent is living may be deemed the county of residence, if and when the nonminor dependent has had a continuous physical presence in the county for one year as a nonminor dependent and the nonminor dependent expressed their intent to remain in that county.
(g)
If a nonminor dependent’s dependency jurisdiction has been resumed, or transition jurisdiction assumed or resumed by the juvenile court that retained general jurisdiction pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 303, as a result of the filing of a petition pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 388, following the granting of the petition, the county in which the nonminor dependent is living at the time the petition was filed may be deemed the county of residence, if and when the nonminor dependent establishes that they have had a continuous physical presence in the county for
one year and has expressed their intent to remain in that county. The period of continuous physical presence in the county shall include any period of continuous residence in the county immediately prior to the filing of the petition.
References
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 366.31.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11400.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 366.3.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 303.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 388.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026