|
ACTION: a lawsuit or proceeding in a court of law.
AFFIDAVIT: a written statement under oath.
AGREEMENT: a verbal or written resolution of disputed issues.
ALIMONY: a payment of support provided by one spouse to the other.
ANSWER: the written response to a complaint, petition, or motion.
ANNULMENT: a marriage can be dissolved in a legal proceeding in which the
marriage is declared void, as though it never took place. In the eyes of the
law, the parties were never married. It is available only under certain
limited circumstances.
APPEAL: a legal action where the losing party requests that a higher court
review the decision.
CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES: Each state has child support guidelines which must
be followed in awarding child support. The guidelines are typically a
formula. There are only a few circumstances when the court can award child
support higher or lower than the guidelines.
COMMON LAW MARRIAGE: a common law marriage comes about when a man and woman
who are free to marry agree to live together as husband and wife without the
formal ceremony. to be common law married, both spouses must have intended
to be husband and wife. Only certain states recognize common law marriages.
CONTEMPT: failure to follow a court order. One side can request that the
court determine that the other side is in contempt and punish him or her.
CUSTODY-SOLE & JOINT: refers to the legal arrangements for whom a child will
live with and how decisions about the child will be made. Custody has two
parts: legal and physical. Legal custody is the decision-making part:
physical custody refers to where the child lives on a regular basis.
Generally, the parent the child does not live with will be allowed to have
regular visits with the child. Parents can make any custodial arrangement
that is in the best interest of their children. The standard for custody is
"best interest of the child".
DEFAULT: a party's failure to answer a complaint, motion, or petition
DEFENDANT: the person the case is brought against (respondent)
DISCOVERY: a way for getting information from the other side or other
people. Examples of discovery are interrogatories (written questions) and
depositions (questions which are usually in person and recorded).
DISSOLUTION: the legal end of a marriage.
FILING: giving the clerk of Court your legal papers.
JUDGMENT: a court's decision.
JURISDICTION: the authority of the court to hear a case.
MARITAL PROPERTY: includes all property acquired during the marriage, even
if it is not titled in both names, with some exceptions.
PETITION: a legal paper that starts a case.
PLAINTIFF: the person who started the case (petitioner)
PRO SE/PROPER PERSON: representing yourself in court without an attorney.
SERVICE: providing a copy of the papers being filed to the other side.
SPOUSE: husband or wife.
VENUE: the county where the case is heard.
|
