Divorce & Separation Legal Terms and Legal Words. Family Law Terminology

able-bodied

having physically strong body; For the purpose of family law it is often used to describe a person as capable of earning a living and, therefore, of paying alimony or child support. … Full Definition »

Law topic: Divorce & Separation << Legal issue: Family Law

adultery

Sexual relationship between a married man or woman and someone who is not their wife or husband … Full Definition »

Law topic: Divorce & Separation << Legal issue: Family Law

alimony

Alimony means an order for payment for the support and maintenance of a spouse or former spouse, periodically or in a lump sum, for a specified or for an indefinite term, ordered in an action for divorce, whether absolute or from bed and board, or in an action for alimony without divorce. Failure to pay ordered alimony can result in contempt of court … Full Definition »

Law topic: Divorce & Separation << Legal issue: Family Law

Alimony pendente lite

An order for temporary support granted to a spouse during the pendency of a divorce or annulment proceeding. … Full Definition »

Law topic: Divorce & Separation << Legal issue: Family Law

Antenuptial agreement

Antenuptial agreement, also known as Prenuptial Agreement, means an agreement between a man and woman before marriage, but in contemplation and generally in consideration of marriage, by which the property rights and interests of the prospective husband and wife, or both of them, are determined, or where property is secured to either or both of them, to … Full Definition »

Law topic: Divorce & Separation << Legal issue: Family Law

child custody

Child custody is the right and duty to care for a minor child on a day-to-day basis and to make major decisions about the child. In sole custody arrangements, one parent takes care of the child most of the time and makes major decisions about the child. In joint custody arrangements, both parents share in making major decisions, and both parents also might … Full Definition »

Law topic: Divorce & Separation << Legal issue: Family Law

child support

A monthly payment, usually court-ordered, that a noncustodial parent must pay to cover his/her share of the cost of raising his/her child. The amount of child support is determined based on number of factors, such as income of parents, number of children, the age of the child, the financial resources and earning ability of the parent, and the value of … Full Definition »

Law topic: Divorce & Separation << Legal issue: Family Law

Collaborative law

Collaborative law is a procedure in which parties who are involved in family law matters and the involved attorneys agree in writing to use their best efforts and make a good-faith attempt to resolve their disputes arising from family law matters on an agreed basis without resorting to judicial intervention, except to have a court approve the settlement … Full Definition »

Law topic: Divorce & Separation << Legal issue: Family Law

condonation

the act of forgiving one's spouse who has committed an act of wrongdoing that would constitute a ground for divorce. Condonation generally is proven by living and cohabiting with the spouse after learning that the wrongdoing was committed. It often is used as a defense to a divorce. … Full Definition »

Law topic: Divorce & Separation << Legal issue: Family Law

fault divorce

A fault divorce is only granted if one of the spouses is legally at fault. Today about two-thirds of states still offer some form of fault divorce when marital misconduct has been proved. In a fault divorce the petitioner (the person asking for the divorce) must prove that an act by his or her spouse constitutes marital misconduct and provides a legal … Full Definition »

Law topic: Divorce & Separation << Legal issue: Family Law