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Dictionary of Law |
alimony :: legal definitionAlimony - n. support paid by one ex-spouse to the other as ordered by a court in a divorce (dissolution) case. Alimony is also called "spousal support" in California and some other states. Usually it is paid by the male to his ex, but in some cases a wealthy woman may have to pay her husband, or, in same-sex relationships the "breadwinner" may pay to support his/her stay-at-home former partner. Many counties and states have adopted formulas for alimony based on the income of each party. Payment of alimony is usually limited in time based on the number of years of marriage. Lengthy marriages may result in a lifetime of payments. A substantial change in circumstance, such as illness, retirement, or loss of income, can be grounds for the court to grant a modification or termination of the payment. Failure to pay ordered alimony can result in contempt of court citations and even jail time. The level of alimony can be determined by written agreement and submitted to the court for a stipulated order. Income tax-wise, alimony is deductible as an expense for the payer and charged as income to the recipient. Child support is not alimony. See also: child support divorce spousal support and Related Law Terms ↓ Related Law Termsad litem :: adj. legal Latin meaning "for the purposes of the ... of age. See also: guardian ad litemadequate remedy :: n. a remedy (money or performance) awarded by a co ... es it, giving cause for his arrest. administrator :: n. the person appointed by the court to handle the ... e also: administer executor probate amicus curiae :: n. Latin for "friend of the court," a party or an ... party's presentation to the court. appeal :: 1) v. to ask a higher court to reverse the decisio ... ng, as in "he has filed an appeal." bailiff :: n. 1) a court official, usually a deputy sheriff, ... isdictional territory of a bailiff. bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy change of circumstances :: n. the principal reason for a court modifying (ame ... ild support divorce spousal support child custody :: n. a court's determination of which parent, relati ... pport custody divorce joint custody child support :: n. court-ordered funds to be paid by one parent to ... ild custody divorce spousal support collateral :: 1) n. property pledged to secure a loan or debt, u ... ral to the Colorado divorce action. competent :: adj. 1) in general, able to act in the circumstanc ... all bases. See also: evidence will complaint :: n. the first document filed with the court (actual ... g prayer service of process summons contempt of court :: n. there are essentially two types of contempt: a) ... roduce evidence. See also: sanction court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials. court costs :: n. fees for expenses that the courts pass on to at ... ee also: cost bill prevailing party divorce :: 1) n. the termination of a marriage by legal actio ... y separate property spousal support domestic relations :: n. a polite term for the legal field of divorce, d ... port and alimony. See also: divorce enjoin :: v. for a court to order that someone either do a s ... so: injunction temporary injunction equity :: n. 1) a venerable group of rights and procedures t ... ry enjoin equitable injunction writ execution :: n. 1) the act of getting an officer of the court t ... so: death penalty writ of execution final settlement :: n. an agreement reached by the parties to a lawsui ... rneys present. See also: settlement friendly suit :: n. a lawsuit filed in order to obtain a court orde ... eement in which there was an error. gag order :: n. a judge's order prohibiting the attorneys and t ... st day in office, January 22, 1993. garnish :: v. to obtain a court order directing a party holdi ... ed. See also: garnishee garnishment guardian :: n. a person who has been appointed by a judge to t ... torship. See also: conservator ward indispensable party :: n. a person or entity which must be included in a ... tion to join Olivia as a defendant. injunction :: n. a writ (order) issued by a court ordering someo ... t. See also: injunctive relief writ insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity insolvency :: n. 1) the condition of having more debts (liabilit ... the property. See also: bankruptcy joint custody :: n. in divorce actions, a decision by the court (of ... em. See also: child custody divorce joint tenancy :: n. a crucial relationship in the ownership of real ... ty property tenancy in common title judicial sale :: n. a sale of goods by an official (keeper, trustee ... o be sold. See also: sheriff's sale jury fees :: n. the rather minimal amount paid each day to juro ... ees as a court cost. See also: jury juvenile court :: n. a special court or department of a trial court ... See also: court juvenile delinquent legal separation :: n. a court-decreed right to live apart, with the r ... n is rarely used. See also: divorce liability :: n. one of the most significant words in the field ... bility joint tortfeasors negligence malpractice :: n. An act or continuing conduct of a professional ... eed. See also: errors and omissions mandate :: n. 1) any mandatory order or requirement under sta ... See also: mandamus writ of mandate marshal :: 1) n. a federal court official who may serve paper ... tablish priorities among creditors. modification :: n. a change in an existing court order or judgment ... terms of child support and custody. motion for a summary judgment :: n. a written request for a judgment in the moving ... strict procedures. See also: motion no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence not guilty by reason of insanity :: n. plea in court of a person charged with a crime ... fense not guilty temporary insanity notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice nunc pro tunc :: (nuhnk proh tuhnk) adj. Latin for "now for then," ... r actuality of a bigamous marriage. option :: n. a right to purchase property or require another ... ng or upon expiration of the lease. order :: 1) n. every direction or mandate of a judge or a c ... defendant. See also: judge judgment parens patriae :: (paa-rens pat-tree-eye) n. Latin for "father of hi ... pport custody divorce guardian ward peremptory writ of mandate :: (or mandamus) n. a final order of a court to any g ... ve writ. See also: mandamus mandate petition :: 1) n. a formal written request to a court for an o ... dent. See also: divorce motion writ presiding judge :: n. 1) in both state and federal appeals court, the ... and chairs meetings of the judges. process :: n. in law, the legal means by which a person is re ... service of process subpena summons remedy :: n. the means to achieve justice in any matter in w ... gment provisional remedy settlement remittitur :: n. 1) a judge's order reducing a judgment awarded ... party on appeal). See also: remand respondent :: n. 1) the party who is required to answer a petiti ... "appellant") in the appeals court. resulting trust :: n. a trust implied by law (as determined by a cour ... See also: constructive trust trust reversal :: n. the decision of a court of appeal ruling that t ... e of damages is ordered to dismiss. rule :: 1) v. to decide a legal question, by a court, as i ... ee also: regulations rules of court sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence separation agreement :: n. an agreement between two married people who hav ... divorce legal separation separation service of process :: n. the delivery of copies of legal documents such ... by publication substituted service set aside :: v. to annul or negate a court order or judgment by ... "set aside" the original dismissal. show cause order :: n. an order of the court, also called an order to ... hild. See also: order to show cause spousal support :: n. payment for support of an ex-spouse (or a spous ... but two. See also: alimony divorce strike :: 1) v. to remove a statement from the record of the ... ing the business, factory or store. summons :: n. a document issued by the court at the time a la ... use service service of process writ supersedeas :: (sooh-purr-said-ee-uhs) Latin for "you shall desis ... . See also: appeal court of appeals Supreme Court :: n. 1) the highest court in the United States, whic ... rt in other states. See also: court temporary injunction :: n. a court order prohibiting an action by a party ... ry injunction. See also: injunction transcript :: n. the written record of all proceedings, includin ... unless transcription is requested. ward :: n. 1) a person (usually a minor) who has a guardia ... ouncil district. See also: guardian warrant :: 1) n. an order (writ) of a court which directs a l ... e search and seizure search warrant wrongful death :: n. the death of a human being as the result of a w ... ual beneficiaries (family members). Popular Law Searcheslegal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay. forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay. what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger." mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor. clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate. Other Law Terms - Aa fortiori :: (ah-for-she-ory) prep. Latin for "with even strong ... rother Cain certainly is too young.a priori assumption :: (ah-pree-ory) n. from Latin, an assumption that is ... when the reality is not so certain. a.k.a. :: prep. abbreviation for "also known as" when someon ... nodgrass, a.k.a. "Snuffy the Snod." ab initio :: prep. lawyer Latin for "from the start," as "it wa ... tart," as "it was legal ab initio." abandon :: v. to intentionally and permanently give up, surre ... lso: abandoned property abandonment abandoned property :: n. property left behind (often by a tenant) intent ... -use. See also: abandon abandonment abandonment :: n. the act of intentionally and permanently giving ... : abandon abandoned property patent abate :: v. to do away with a problem, such as a public or ... ty septic tank. See also: abatement abatement :: n. 1) the removal of a problem which is against pu ... eneficiary in full. See also: abate abduction :: n. the criminal taking away of a person by persuas ... g of children. See also: kidnapping abet :: v. to help someone commit a crime, including helpi ... n the crime. See also: aid and abet abeyance :: 1) n. when the owner- ship of property has not bee ... 2) legal jargon for "undetermined." able-bodied :: adj. physically capable of working at a job or in ... of paying alimony or child support. abortion :: n. the termination of pregnancy by various means, ... ed abortion continue in the future. abrogate :: v. to annul or repeal a law or pass legislation th ... ons of a contract. See also: repeal abscond :: v. 1) traditionally to leave a jurisdiction (where ... as in "he absconded with the loot." absolute :: adj. complete, and without condition. ... j. complete, and without condition. abstention doctrine :: n. when the Supreme Court refuses to exercise its ... being appealed from a state court. abstract :: n. in general, a summary of a record or document, ... tract of judgment abstract of title abstract of judgment :: n. a written summary of a judgment which states ho ... aying the debt. See also: levy lien |