A DIVORCE GLOSSARY

A DIVORCE GLOSSARY
BY: NATHAN DAWSON
divorce lawyers and law firms can provide a
great deal of divorce information and divorce
ADVICE; BUT SOMETIMES, ALL THAT LEGAL JARGON CAN
be confusing to say the least, not to mention
intimidating. getting a good, low cost divorce
SETTLEMENT REQUIRES PLANNING AND RESEARCH.

so, why not start here? we have provided you
WITH A GOOD GLOSSARY OF LEGAL TERMS RELATED TO
the process of getting a divorce:

ALIMONY
a regular support payment by one divorced spouse
to the other

annulment
a court declaration stating that a legal
MARRIAGE NEVER EXISTED

arbitration
HAVING A DISPUTED MATTER SETTLED BY A THIRD
party who is not a judge.

ATTACHMENT
a court-ordered seizure of a debtor's property.

ATTORNEY AT LAW
a state-licensed advocate who is hired to
prepare, manage and try a case in court.

alternative dispute resolution
a process of negotiation, mediation and
ARBITRATION, IN LIEU OF A TRIAL, AS A WAY TO
resolve issues pertaining to a judgment of
divorce.

case information statement (cis)
a financial document specifying the details of
YOUR RESPECTIVE INCOMES, EXPENSES, ASSETS, AND
debts.

CHILD SUPPORT
money paid by one ex-spouse to another toward
their child's expenses.

common law marriage
a marriage without a license or ceremony in
WHICH THE COUPLE COHABITATED FOR A MINIMUM
number of years (varies from state to state).

DEFAULT
failure to do something (such as make a payment)
on time.

discovery
the legal procedures used to gather all the
FACTS NECESSARY TO SETTLE A CASE OR TO PREPARE
the case for trial.

DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (DIVORCE)
the legal separation of a married couple so that
each one may be free to marry again.

equitable distribution
a fair division of the assets acquired during
YOUR MARRIAGE.

inventory and appraisement
A LIST OF JOINTLY-OWNED PROPERTY ALONG WITH THE
current value of each one.

JOINT LEGAL CUSTODY
an agreement in which a divorced couple share
the rights and responsibilities of making major
DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR CHILD'S LIFE.

joint physical custody
THE SHARED RIGHT TO HAVE A CHILD LIVE WITH ONE
or the other parent at different times of the
week or year.

judgement of divorce
a legal document following a settlement or trial
THAT GRANTS A DIVORCE AND STATES THE COURT'S
decisions with regard to alimony, support,
custody, visitation rights, and equitable
DISTRIBUTION.

maintenance
ALIMONY OR CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS

marital settlement agreement
AN OUT-OF-COURT AGREEMENT THAT RESOLVES ALL
issues surrounding a divorce.

MEDIATION
a process by which a dispute is resolved and an
agreement between two parties is reached with
THE ASSISTANCE OF A DISINTERESTED THIRD PARTY
known as a mediator.

NON-MARITAL PROPERTY
property that belongs exclusively to either the
husband or the wife and, as such, cannot be
DIVIDED BETWEEN THE TWO.

no-fault divorce
A DIVORCE GRANTED WITH THE MUTUAL AGREEMENT OF
two spouses, or when one spouse has left the
marriage for a certain period of time (varies by
STATE).

rehabilitative alimony
ALIMONY THAT HELPS THE EX-SPOUSE TO BECOME
self-reliant.

SEPARATION
the absence of one spouse from the household
before a divorce.

separation agreement
a temporary agreement with regard to support,
CHILD CUSTODY AND PROPERTY FOR THE PERIOD
between the onset of separation and the granting
of a divorce.

spouse
a husband or wife

support
payment due to one spouse from the other
REGARDING HOUSING, FOOD, CLOTHING, AND OTHER
expenses.

TRANSFER
to switch legal ownership from one person to
another.

verification statement
an oath declaring that the information stated in
A DOCUMENT IS TRUE.

visitation
THE RIGHT FOR A NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT TO VISIT
his or her child.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
nathan dawson writes for
http://www.lifeaftermarriage.com [2]a great
ONLINE SOURCE FOR FINANCE INFORMATION.

CIRCULATED BY ARTICLE EMPORIUM [3]
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