Attorney – Recommended any time you have a family law issue, even if just for consultation.
Best Interest of the Child – Standard for determination of custody and visitation schedules.
Child Support – Determined by parents’ respective incomes and time with the children.
Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO) – Obtained when a party has committed abuse against the other or an immediate family member.
Evaluation – Expert who meets parents and children, then makes custody recommendations to the court.
Filing Fees – Required when filing any Petition, Response or other pleadings in court.
Guardianship – When a non-parent has custody rights, either by parental permission or court order.
Hearsay – Most common form of evidence parties want the Judge to hear, but is rarely allowed.
Income & Expense Declaration (I&E) – Required in any case with financial issues.
Joint Legal Custody – Where both parents make decisions on a child’s school, religion and medical care.
Keech Declaration – Filed by an attorney when requesting attorney’s fees from the other party.
Litigation – Act or process of bringing or contesting a legal action in court.
Minor’s Counsel – An attorney for a child, typically ordered in contentious custody cases.
Non-parent – A person who may be joined in a case if they have claims of custody or visitation.
Order – May be temporary or final and is reached by settlement or after a hearing in court.
Property Division – Process of characterizing, valuing and awarding property (or debt) in a divorce.
Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) – Obtained to divide retirement accounts.
Reconciliation – When a separated couple starts to hold themselves out as still married, maintain finances, have sex regularly and live together.
Spousal Support – When higher wage earner pays the other party to maintain the marital standard of living, during and after divorce.
Trial – Performed when a Judge must determine final issues and grant divorce.
Uniform Premarital Agreement Act (UPAA) – Sets a uniform standard for premarital agreements in states which adopt the act.
Vocational Evaluation – Can be done when a party requests support but is un/under-employed.
Witness – Person who testifies under oath about events actually witnessed.
X – An abbreviation for “Ex”, which is what you have when your divorce is final.
Year to Date (YTD) – Used for calculating a party’s income or the amount of support paid.
Zero – The amount of sympathy a Judge will typically give you if you show up without an attorney, so get one!
For more information about support and other family law matters, contact the Reape-Rickett Law Firm at 661-288-1000. They are located at 25152 Springfield Court, Suite 100 in Valencia.