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 responds to the petitioner. If you did not file the petition to start a court case, and you are named in the case, you are the respondent. In family matters, the terms petitioner and ...

Final decree

Legal services; Family law

The final decision in a case, which is generally issued by the court after the trial. A final decree is the same thing as a decree. In certain circumstances you may wish to appeal this order, in ...

Pension

Legal services; Family law

A series of periodic payments, usually for life, payable monthly or at other specified intervals. The term is frequently used to describe the part of a retirement allowance financed by employer ...

Motion practise

Legal services; Family law

The three-step process you must use to make written requests to the judge. See Civil Rule 77 for more information.

Trial

Legal services; Family law

Formal court proceeding at which evidence is heard and the case is decided.

Enforce

Legal services; Family law

To require somebody to do something that is stated in a court order. For example, if a domestic violence protective order states the respondent needs to stay away from the petitioner and the ...

Proof of service

Legal services; Family law

The document proving that the other party was formally served. Generally, you only need a proof of service at the beginning of the case to prove the defendant received the complaint and summons ...