Abandonment occurs when a spouse brings cohabitation to an end without justification, without the consent of the other spouse, and without the intent of renewing cohabitation.
- Browse Related Terms: abandonment, Alimony, Alimony in gross, Alimony recapture rule, Condonation, Indignities, Limited divorce, Lump sum alimony, Permanent alimony, Separation, Temporary alimony
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Absolute divorce is the termination of a marriage by legal action, requiring a petition or complaint for divorce (or dissolution in some states, including California) by one party.
a divorce in which the marriage is completely dissolved and both parties become single.
- Browse Related Terms: Absolute divorce, Annulment, Dissolution, Divorce, Equitable distribution, Malicious turning out of doors, Marital property, No fault divorce, Non-marital property, Prenuptial agreement, Reconciliation
Acceptance of service is an agreement by a defendant (or his/her attorney) in a legal action to accept a complaint or other petition (like divorce papers) without having the sheriff or process server show up at the door.
- Browse Related Terms: Acceptance of service, Affidavit, Agreement, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) (ADR), answer, Certificate of service, Decree, Default, Deposition, Discovery, Interrogatories, Service, Stipulation
Action refers to any lawsuit or preceding in a court of law.
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Adultery means consensual sexual relations when one of the participants is legally married to another.
- Browse Related Terms: Action, Adultery, Alienation of affection, Appeal, Contempt, Ex Parte Protective Order, fault, judgment, Professional Practice, Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) (QDRO), Restraining order, Subpoena
Affidavit is any written document in which the signer swears under oath before a notary public or someone authorized to take oaths (like a County Clerk), that the statements in the document are true.
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An agreement is a written or verbal resolution of disputed issues.
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An alias summons is an additional summons when the original is not served on the defendant.
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Alienation of affection means convincing a wife to leave her husband, often for another man, causing the husband to lose conjugal relations.
- Browse Related Terms: Action, Adultery, Alienation of affection, Appeal, Contempt, Ex Parte Protective Order, fault, judgment, Professional Practice, Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) (QDRO), Restraining order, Subpoena
Alimony is support paid by one ex-spouse to the other as ordered by a court in a divorce (dissolution) case.
a payment made by one spouse to another pending divorce or separation.
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alimony payments paid in one lump sum.
- Browse Related Terms: abandonment, Alimony, Alimony in gross, Alimony recapture rule, Condonation, Indignities, Limited divorce, Lump sum alimony, Permanent alimony, Separation, Temporary alimony
The alimony recapture rule only applies to the payor when alimony payments decrease substantially or end during the first three calendar years.
- Browse Related Terms: abandonment, Alimony, Alimony in gross, Alimony recapture rule, Condonation, Indignities, Limited divorce, Lump sum alimony, Permanent alimony, Separation, Temporary alimony
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is the name for the different ways of settling a disagreement outside of the courtroom.
- Browse Related Terms: Acceptance of service, Affidavit, Agreement, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) (ADR), answer, Certificate of service, Decree, Default, Deposition, Discovery, Interrogatories, Service, Stipulation
the legal dissolution of a marriage. In an annulment, the marriage is treated as though it never existed.
- Browse Related Terms: Absolute divorce, Annulment, Dissolution, Divorce, Equitable distribution, Malicious turning out of doors, Marital property, No fault divorce, Non-marital property, Prenuptial agreement, Reconciliation
An answer is the written response to a petition, motion, or complaint.
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An appeal is a legal action where the losing party requests that a higher court review the decision.
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Arrearage is the amount of money that is past due for child or spousal support.
- Browse Related Terms: Arrearage, Child custody, Child support, Corroborative witness, Custodial parent, Fixed visitation, Joint custody, legal custody, Minor, Non-custodial parent, Paternity, Physical custody, Reasonable visitation, Sole custody, Supervised visitation