divorce :: 1) n. the termination of a marriage by legal actio ... y separate property spousal support
lateral support :: n. the right of a land- owner to assurance that hi ... support problems are less dramatic.
child custody :: n. a court's determination of which parent, relati ... pport custody divorce joint custody
alimony :: n. support paid by one ex-spouse to the other as o ... ild support divorce spousal support
bifurcate :: v. the order or ruling of a judge that one issue i ... is necessary. See also: bifurcation
change of circumstances :: n. the principal reason for a court modifying (ame ... ild support divorce spousal support
show cause order :: n. an order of the court, also called an order to ... hild. See also: order to show cause
foster child :: n. a child without parental support and protection ... local government or a state agency.
separation agreement :: n. an agreement between two married people who hav ... divorce legal separation separation
desertion :: n. the act of abandoning, particularly leaving one ... tody and other post-marital issues.
collateral attack :: n. a legal action to challenge a ruling in another ... of paternity in the divorce action.
modification :: n. a change in an existing court order or judgment ... terms of child support and custody.
parens patriae :: (paa-rens pat-tree-eye) n. Latin for "father of hi ... pport custody divorce guardian ward
domestic relations :: n. a polite term for the legal field of divorce, d ... port and alimony. See also: divorce
legal separation :: n. a court-decreed right to live apart, with the r ... n is rarely used. See also: divorce
emancipation :: n. freeing a minor child from the control of paren ... vorced parent to pay child support.
collateral :: 1) n. property pledged to secure a loan or debt, u ... ral to the Colorado divorce action.
irreparable damage or injury :: n. the type of harm which no monetary compensation ... also: equity injunction remedy writ
garnish :: v. to obtain a court order directing a party holdi ... ed. See also: garnishee garnishment
order to show cause :: n. a judge's written mandate that a party appear i ... vernmental agency. See also: O.S.C.
contempt of court :: n. there are essentially two types of contempt: a) ... roduce evidence. See also: sanction
discharge in bankruptcy :: n. an order given by the bankruptcy judge, at the ... red creditors. See also: bankruptcy
extreme cruelty :: n. an archaic requirement to show infliction of ph ... ring the suffering spouse (victim).
motion :: n. a formal request made to a judge for an order o ... g, an oral motion may be permitted.
arrears :: n. money not paid when due, usually the sum of a s ... imes these are called "arrearages."
rules of court :: n. a set of procedural regulations adopted by cour ... s counsel. See also: procedure rule
pendente lite :: (pen-den-tay lee-tay) adj. Latin for awaiting the ... enforced until the lawsuit is over.
argumentative :: adj. the characterization of a question asked by t ... oody glove just walked over there?"
able-bodied :: adj. physically capable of working at a job or in ... of paying alimony or child support.
quasi-criminal :: adj. a reference to a court's right to punish for ... defendant. See also: criminal quasi
process :: n. in law, the legal means by which a person is re ... service of process subpena summons
wrongful death :: n. the death of a human being as the result of a w ... ual beneficiaries (family members).
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
abandonment :: n. the act of intentionally and permanently giving ... : abandon abandoned property patent
child :: n. 1) a person's natural offspring. 2) a person 14 ... almost all states. See also: minor
paternity suit :: n. a lawsuit, usually by a mother, to prove that a ... d to a prompt and quiet settlement.
abandon :: v. to intentionally and permanently give up, surre ... lso: abandoned property abandonment
no fault divorce :: n. divorces (dissolutions) in which neither spouse ... and South Dakota. See also: divorce
promoter :: n. a person who puts together a business, particul ... y effort and not by assets or cash.
joint custody :: n. in divorce actions, a decision by the court (of ... em. See also: child custody divorce
impotence :: n. the male's inability to copulate. Impotence can ... eans inability to produce children.
malum prohibitum :: (mal-uhm prohibit-uhm) adj. Latin meaning "wrong d ... lso: malum in se white collar crime
pander :: 1) v. to solicit customers for a prostitute. 2) n. ... ons or favors. See also: prostitute
living will :: n. also called "a durable power of attorney," it i ... upport. See also: power of attorney
motion for a summary judgment :: n. a written request for a judgment in the moving ... strict procedures. See also: motion
overcharge :: v. 1) to charge more than a posted or advertised p ... osecutor to intimidate the accused.
palimony :: n. a substitute for alimony in cases in which the ... the relationship. See also: alimony
meet and confer :: n. a requirement of courts that before certain typ ... s which are freighted with emotion.
N.O.V. :: adj. shorthand acronym of Latin for non obstante v ... notwithstanding the verdict verdic
error :: n. a mistake by a judge in procedure or in substan ... or. See also: harmless error remand
rider :: n. 1) an attachment to a document which adds to or ... sic bill has support. 3) passenger.
conclusion of law :: n. a judge's final decision on a question of law w ... aw if requested. See also: judgment
conclusion of fact :: n. in a trial, the final result of an analysis of ... quested. See also: finding judgment
audit :: n. an examination by a trained accountant of the f ... rmation provided. See also: auditor
arbitrary :: adj. not supported by fair or substantial cause or ... d in reference to a judge's ruling.
condone :: v. 1) to forgive, support, and/or overlook moral o ... ition that the sin is not repeated.
mediation :: n. the attempt to settle a legal dispute through a ... a settlement. See also: arbitration
amicus curiae :: n. Latin for "friend of the court," a party or an ... party's presentation to the court.
separate property :: n. in community property states (California, Texas ... pouse. See also: community property
endorsement :: (indorsement)n. 1) the act of the owner or payee s ... te. See also: negotiable instrument
endorse (indorse) :: v. 1) to sign one's name to the back of a check, b ... or candidate. See also: endorsement
dependent :: 1) n. a person receiving support from another pers ... dent on the expert being available.
legal aid society :: n. an organization formed to assist persons who ha ... bar association. See also: pro bono
tools of trade :: n. in bankruptcy law, the equipment a person requi ... pay creditors. See also: bankruptcy
summary judgment :: n. a court order ruling that no factual issues rem ... tion summary adjudication of issues
community property :: n. property and profits received by a husband and ... and distribution separate property
vagrancy :: n. moving about without a means to support oneself ... ue of "loitering." See also: loiter
summary adjudication of issues :: n. a court order ruling that certain factual issue ... is made. See also: summary judgment
custody :: n. 1) holding property under one's control. 2) law ... inor child. See also: child custody
search warrant :: n. a written order by a judge which permits a law ... ble cause search search and seizure
sedition :: n. the federal crime of advocacy of insurrection a ... e rare. See also: espionage treason
rule :: 1) v. to decide a legal question, by a court, as i ... ee also: regulations rules of court
child support :: n. court-ordered funds to be paid by one parent to ... ild custody divorce spousal support
spousal support :: n. payment for support of an ex-spouse (or a spous ... but two. See also: alimony divorce
ward :: n. 1) a person (usually a minor) who has a guardia ... ouncil district. See also: guardian
will :: n. a written document which leaves the estate of t ... will and testament probate testator
widow's election :: n. the choice a widow makes between accepting what ... nt and distribution succession will
jurisdiction :: n. the authority given by law to a court to try ca ... Superior Court Supreme Court venue
vigilante :: n. someone who takes the law into his/her own hand ... lester of her child is a vigilante.
mental cruelty :: n. a term, rapidly going out of fashion and out of ... history. See also: cruelty divorce
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.
petition :: 1) n. a formal written request to a court for an o ... dent. See also: divorce motion writ
putative :: adj. commonly believed, supposed or claimed. Thus ... not the last will of the deceased.
rental value :: n. the amount which would be paid for rental of si ... alimony to be paid. See also: rent
service by publication :: n. serving a summons or other legal document in a ... perty. See also: service of process
widow :: n. a woman whose husband died while she was marrie ... nefits traceable to the ex-husband.
special master :: n. a person appointed by the court to carry out an ... ting to the judge. See also: master
statutory rape :: n. sexual intercourse with a female below the lega ... majority minority molestation rape
paralegal :: n. a non-lawyer who performs routine tasks requiri ... h less than that for the attorneys.
third-party beneficiary :: n. a person who is not a party to a contract but h ... tract as a third-party beneficiary.
testamentary trust :: n. a trust created by the terms of a will. Example ... vivos trust living trust trust will
surrogate :: n. 1) a person acting on behalf of another or a su ... or probates, estates and adoptions.
three strikes, you're out :: n. recent (beginning 1994) legislation enacted in ... ich involve small amounts of money.
in forma pauperis :: (in form-ah paw-purr-iss) adj. or adv. Latin for " ... poor defendants who have been sued.
bigamy :: n. the condition of having two wives or two husban ... d to several husbands is polyandry.
canon law :: n. laws and regulations over ecclesiastical (churc ... nduct with no religious connection.
constructive notice :: n. a fiction that a person got notice even though ... personally. See also: constructive
court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials.
attorney of record :: n. the attorney who has appeared in court and/or s ... eve have long since been completed.
adultery :: n. consensual sexual relations when one of the par ... s and grist for scandal newspapers.
rule against perpetuities :: n. the legal prohibition against tying up property ... . See also: restraint on alienation
abuse of discretion :: n. a polite way of saying a trial judge has made s ... partner's realistic ability to pay.
acceptance of service :: n. agreement by a defendant (or his/her attorney) ... o accept service. See also: service
cruelty :: n. the intentional and malicious infliction of phy ... ruel and unusual punishment divorce
decree :: n. in general, synonymous with judgment. However, ... n's estate, etc. See also: judgment
home rule :: n. the power of a local city or county to set up i ... state funds for local improvements.
incompatibility :: n. the state of a marriage in which the spouses no ... mpatible irreconcilable differences
incompatible :: adj. 1) inconsistent. 2) unmatching. 3) unable to ... ch other. See also: incompatibility
interlocutory decree :: n. a court judgment which is temporary and not int ... ppeared to waste the parties' time.
final decree :: n. another name for a final judgment. In states wh ... together). See also: final judgment
domicile :: n. the place where a person has his/her permanent ... where its headquarters is located.
defendant :: n. 1) the party sued in a civil lawsuit or the par ... nt. See also: codefendant plaintiff
determinable :: adj. defining something which may be terminated up ... es or no longer lives in the house.
dissolution :: n. modern, gentler sounding, term for divorce, off ... lving a marriage. See also: divorce
irreconcilable differences :: n. the usual basis for granting a divorce (dissolu ... See also: divorce no fault divorce
pedophilia :: n. an obsession with children as sex objects. Over ... also: molestation pornography rape
exemption :: n. 1) in income taxation, a credit given for each ... l children or is a college student.
failure of issue :: n. when someone dies leaving no children or other ... ildren or other direct descendants.
family :: n. 1) husband, wife and children. 2) all blood rel ... ting this economic and social unit.
enjoin :: v. for a court to order that someone either do a s ... so: injunction temporary injunction
dower :: n. an old English common law right of a widow to o ... t and distribution widow's election
disinherit :: v. to intentionally take actions to guarantee that ... rorem clause pretermitted heir will
disposing mind and memory :: n. the mental ability to understand in general wha ... ng a will. See also: competent will
domestic violence :: n. the continuing crime and problem of the physica ... ravated assault assault and battery
fee tail :: n. an old feudal expression for a title to real pr ... rest only. See also: fee fee simple
fertile octogenarian :: n. an unrealistic notion that any person (male or ... e passed laws to cure this anomaly.
habeas corpus :: (hay-bee-us core-puss) n. Latin for "you have the ... nality of a state court conviction.
head of household :: n. 1) in federal income tax law, the person filing ... n or daughter. 3) "head of family."
heir :: n. one who acquires property upon the death of ano ... y pretermitted heir succession will
guardian ad litem :: n. a person appointed by the court only to take le ... awsuit is filed. See also: ad litem
guardian :: n. a person who has been appointed by a judge to t ... torship. See also: conservator ward
first degree murder :: n. although it varies from state to state, it is g ... aughter murder second degree murder
foreseeable risk :: n. a danger which a reasonable person should antic ... reseeable. See also: foreseeability
generation skipping :: adj., adv. referring to gifts made through trusts ... to a grandchild without a gift tax.
descent :: n. the rules of inheritance established by law in ... on inheritance intestate succession
degree of kinship :: n. the level of relationship between two persons r ... there is no will. See also: descent
agency :: n. the relationship of a person (called the agent) ... ondeat superior scope of employment
antenuptial (prenuptial) agreement :: n. a written contract between two people who are a ... ave been "taken" by a prior spouse.
attractive nuisance doctrine :: n. a legal doctrine which makes a person negligent ... ch make negligence harder to prove.
advancement :: n. a gift made by a person to one of his or her ch ... tate gift in contemplation of death
adoption :: n. the taking of a child into one's family, creati ... the child are met. See also: adopt
abduction :: n. the criminal taking away of a person by persuas ... g of children. See also: kidnapping
ad litem :: adj. legal Latin meaning "for the purposes of the ... of age. See also: guardian ad litem
adopt :: v. 1) to take on the relationship of parent to chi ... nt in a lawsuit. See also: adoption
capital gains :: n. the difference between the sales price and the ... so: basis delayed exchange exchange
carnal knowledge :: n. from Latin carnalis for "fleshly:" sexual inter ... tate. See also: rape statutory rape
curtesy :: n. in old common law, the right of a surviving hus ... ommunity property dower life estate
D.W.I. :: n. 1) short for driving while intoxicated. 2) abbr ... for dying without issue (children).
deduction :: n. an expenditure which an income tax payer may su ... dded together, reduce the tax owed.
contingent interest :: n. an interest in real property which, according t ... ontingent remainder future interest
confidential communication :: n. certain written communications which can be kep ... privilege privileged communication
charitable remainder trust (Charitable Remainder Irrevocable Unitrust) :: n. a form of trust in which the donor (trustor or ... ed up or committed. See also: trust
competent :: adj. 1) in general, able to act in the circumstanc ... all bases. See also: evidence will
conditional bequest :: n. in a will, a gift which will take place only if ... rries." See also: bequest executory
heirs of the body :: n. descendants of one's bloodline, such as childre ... nal owner. See also: heir reversion
hotchpot :: n. the putting together, blending or mixing of var ... t in the hotchpot and then divided.
pornography :: n. pictures and/or writings of sexual activity int ... courts to follow. See also: obscene
possibility of a reverter :: n. the potential that the title to a real property ... further issue. See also: reversion
prenuptial agreement :: n. also called an antenuptial agreement, a written ... been "taken" by a previous spouse.
per stirpes :: (purr stir-peas) adj. Latin for "by roots," by rep ... descent and distribution trust will
parental neglect :: n. a crime consisting of acts or omissions of a pa ... usive or sexually predatory person.
murder :: n. the killing of a human being by a sane person, ... premeditation second degree murder
operation of law :: n. a change or transfer which occurs automatically ... atically upon the child turning 18.
orphan :: n. a child, particularly a minor, whose two natura ... an a child who has lost one parent.
presumption :: n. a rule of law which permits a court to assume a ... resumption at all, but a certainty.
pretermitted heir :: n. the child of a person who has written a will in ... cified $10,000 each. See also: heir
residue :: n. in a will, the assets of the estate of a person ... distribution residuary bequest will
respondeat superior :: (rehs-pond-dee-at superior) n. Latin for "let the ... : agency agent negligence principal
restraining order :: n. a temporary order of a court to keep conditions ... so: injunction permanent injunction
res judicata :: : (rayz judy-cot-ah) n. Latin for "the thing has b ... djudicata. See also: res adjudicata
remainder :: n. in real property law, the interest in real prop ... ed reversion title vested remainder
product liability :: n. the responsibility of manufacturers, distributo ... e known. See also: warrant warranty
protective custody :: n. the act of law enforcement officials in placing ... ical harm or death if they testify.
rape :: 1) n. the crime of sexual intercourse (with actual ... See also: date rape statutory rape
molestation :: n. the crime of sexual acts with children up to th ... of rape. See also: pedophilia rape
mediator :: n. a person who conducts mediation. A mediator is ... o: arbitration arbitrator mediation
incidental beneficiary :: n. someone who obtains a benefit as the result of ... parent. See also: beneficiary trust
incontrovertible evidence :: n. evidence introduced to prove a fact in a trial ... erson is not the parent of a child.
insurance :: n. a contract (insurance policy) in which the insu ... t clause Workers' Compensation Acts
incest :: n. sexual intercourse between close blood relative ... ily genes carrying such weaknesses.
incapacity :: adj. 1) not being able to perform any gainful empl ... of the will. See also: incompetent
i.e. :: prep. abbreviation for id est, which is Latin for ... "e.g.," which means "for example."
impute :: v. 1) to attach to a person responsibility (and th ... also. See also: vicarious liability
in kind :: adj. referring to payment, distribution or substit ... . See also: distribution trust will
issue :: 1) n. a person's children or other lineal descenda ... the body incorporation share stock
joint tenancy :: n. a crucial relationship in the ownership of real ... ty property tenancy in common title
lineal descendant :: n. a person who is in direct line to an ancestor, ... See also: descent and distribution
majority :: n. 1) the age when a person can exercise all norma ... t. See also: child infancy minority
master :: n. 1) employer, in the area of law known as "maste ... ter and servant respondeat superior
life estate :: n. the right to use or occupy real property for on ... hter, Sadie, will own the property.
legitimate :: adj., adv1) legal, proper, real. 2) referring to a ... 3) v. to make proper and/or legal.
juvenile court :: n. a special court or department of a trial court ... See also: court juvenile delinquent
kidnapping :: (also spelled kidnaping) n. the taking of a person ... but now applies to adults as well.
reversion :: n. in real property, the return to the grantor or ... lled "reverter." See also: reverter