Family law

Family law

Law that deals with family-related issues such as spousal abuse, legitimacy, adoption, surrogacy, child abuse, and child abduction.

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Family law

The person who starts a case that uses petitions rather than complaints to start the case. In family cases, the terms petitioner and respondent are used in domestic violence cases and dissolutions. ...

Custody and visitation plan

Legal services; Family law

The plan describing how the parents will be involved in their children's life, recognising that children of different ages have different needs and that the plan will also change if one or both of ...

Bifurcate

Legal services; Family law

To separate legal issues for decision. The judge usually issues one final order that decides all of the issues in a case. For example, in a divorce case, the final decree ends the marriage, divides ...

Master

Legal services; Family law

A specially qualified person who is appointed as a judicial officer to take evidence and make a recommendation to the judge.

Statements

Legal services; Family law

Your statements can only be evidence and considered by the court if made under oath.

Exhibit

Legal services; Family law

A paper, document, chart, map, or the like used to help prove a case. Sometimes these are attached to and referred in an affidavit, pleading, or brief, but more often these are brought to the hearing ...

Sole legal custody

Legal services; Family law

One parent is given the legal authority to make the major life decisions affecting the child's welfare, such as where the children goes to the doctor, goes to school or how money matters are handled. ...