Florida Women's Law Group A written statement of facts that are made under oath and that must be witnessed and signed by a notary or other official authorized to administer oaths.
Florida Women's Law Group The formal response for a divorce, separation, or annulment petition. The response or answer contains the admission or denial of the allegations made by the Petitioner or against the Petitioner.
Florida Women's Law Group Amount of support determined by the court or administrative process that was due and has not been paid.
Florida Women's Law Group Refers to the rights and obligations between parents regarding their children after a divorce, legal separation, or paternity decree.
Florida Women's Law Group The money a parent pays to another parent to help pay for the needs of the child.
Florida Women's Law Group A series of mathematical formulas that help derive the proper amount of child support that should be awarded.
Florida Women's Law Group An arrangement where two unmarried people, who are typically romantically involved, live together.
Florida Women's Law Group A legal process, in which divorcing or separating couples work with their lawyers and other family professionals to work out an agreement without going to court.
Florida Women's Law Group When misconduct of a spouse is no longer grounds of divorce due to the act of forgiveness.
Florida Women's Law Group Any deliberate failure to comply with the legal process, including the disruption of the court.
Florida Women's Law Group A statement of the reasons for the breakdown of the marriage issued by the Respondent. It will be different than that of the Petitioner.
Florida Women's Law Group The parent a child normally lives with, and the one who makes legal decisions concerning the child.
Florida Women's Law Group Refers to the rights and obligations between parents regarding their children after a divorce, legal separation, or paternity decree.
Florida Women's Law Group An order or judgment made based solely on the Petitioner’s complaint due to no response or presence of the Respondent.
Florida Women's Law Group The testimony of a witness under oath outside of court and reduced to writing. It also is used to question the opposing party.
Florida Women's Law Group Procedures used to gather information that pertains to the credibility of the opposing party’s case.
Florida Women's Law Group A legal judgment that severs a marital relationship and returns each person to single status.
Florida Women's Law Group An order issued regarding an urgent matter, often concerning domestic violence or child abuse and generally in an emergency situation, granted on the request of and for the benefit of one party only. Ex parte matters are usually temporary orders pending a formal hearing.
Florida Women's Law Group A professional used to help a judge reach a decision. Experts can include appraisers, counselors, evaluators, and accountants.
Florida Women's Law Group A process to enforce an existing order for visitation/parenting time with a child.
Florida Women's Law Group A support enforcement technique, in which the support payment is automatically deducted from the supporter’s paycheck and delivered to the recipient parent.
Florida Women's Law Group An adult, usually appointed by the court, who represents the non-legal interest of a minor child in a divorce. He or she is a trained social worker, attorney, counselor, or other professional.
Florida Women's Law Group A proceeding taking place before a court where testimony is given and arguments are heard.
Florida Women's Law Group A court order preventing someone from doing a particular act that is likely to cause physical or mental injury or property loss of another individual.
Florida Women's Law Group A group of questions served upon the opposing party to gain knowledge pertaining to the issues in the matrimonial proceedings.
Florida Women's Law Group The authority of one parent or both parents to make legal decisions regarding the health, education, and welfare of the child. It may be sole, primary, or joint custody.
Florida Women's Law Group A court process designed to define the important rights and obligations between spouses when they live apart but do not want divorce.
Florida Women's Law Group Temporary or permanent financial support paid to one spouse from the other, either in one lump sum or installments. Also known as “alimony” or “spousal support.”
Florida Women's Law Group A non-adversarial divorce procedure, where divorcing spouses are assisted in reaching a settlement by a neutral third party who is trained in the divorce process.
Florida Women's Law Group A provision in divorce agreements prohibiting a parent from engaging in certain behavior in their private life, such as cohabiting or having overnight guests of the opposite sex in the presence of children.
Florida Women's Law Group A written request of the court to change a previous order regarding child custody, support, alimony, or other divorce-related decisions.
Florida Women's Law Group A type of divorce, in which neither party needs to prove there was any kind of marital misconduct.
Florida Women's Law Group Notice regarding a preliminary, temporary, or other hearing that may involve child custody, support, or maintenance/alimony.
Florida Women's Law Group Person initiating a lawsuit in family law cases. Also known as a “plaintiff.”
Florida Women's Law Group Refers to the amount of time each parent is permitted to be in the physical vicinity of their child. This may be sole, primary, or joint custody.
Florida Women's Law Group A contract entered prior to marriage that establishes the property and financial rights of each spouse in the event of divorce.
Florida Women's Law Group An order used by the court to protect against a situation involving alleged domestic violence, harassment, stalking, or sexual assault.
Florida Women's Law Group A special court order used in divorce or legal separation to split a retirement or pension plan by recognizing joint marital ownership interests in the plan.
Florida Women's Law Group Charge made by an accused person against the accuser. In some jurisdictions, a defendant may recriminate, in order to rely on the plaintiff’s misconduct as the defendant’s grounds for divorce.
Florida Women's Law Group Part of the Discovery process. One attorney asks that the other side produce financial documents he or she feels are necessary for the case.
Florida Women's Law Group The state requirement that you live in a certain jurisdiction before filing for divorce there. Will vary by state.
Florida Women's Law Group Also known as “defendant.” The party who is sued and must respond to a filed petition.
Florida Women's Law Group A provision placed in child custody agreements requiring one parent to offer the other parent the opportunity to look after their children before contacting a babysitter or other family member to take care of them.
Florida Women's Law Group A document delivered to a person who is not directly involved in the action filed but is needed for testimony.
Florida Women's Law Group A written notification to the Respondent that an action has been filed against him or her.
Florida Women's Law Group Order of the court that only applies while the divorce is pending. They are generally terminated when the divorce is finalized.
Florida Women's Law Group A former court hearing to decide the disputed issues filed in the complaint or summons.
Florida Women's Law Group The right of a parent who does not have physical custody to see his or her child.
Florida Women's Law Group A court order authorizing the seizure of an asset of a non-custodial parent who owes past-due child support. The order usually authorizes the seizure of assets up to the total amount of past-due child support owed under the judgment. It also is known as a levy.