| Divorce lawyers and law firms can provide a great | | | | Joint Legal Custody |
| deal of divorce information and divorce advice; but | | | | An agreement in which a divorced couple share the |
| sometimes, all that legal jargon can be confusing to | | | | rights and responsibilities of making major decisions |
| say the least, not to mention intimidating. Getting a | | | | about their child's life. |
| good, low cost divorce settlement requires planning | | | | Joint Physical Custody |
| and research. | | | | The shared right to have a child live with one or the |
| So, why not start here? We have provided you with a | | | | other parent at different times of the week or year. |
| good glossary of legal terms related to the process of | | | | Judgement of Divorce |
| getting a divorce: | | | | A legal document following a settlement or trial that |
| Alimony | | | | grants a divorce and states the court's decisions with |
| A regular support payment by one divorced spouse to | | | | regard to alimony, support, custody, visitation rights, and |
| the other | | | | equitable distribution. |
| Annulment | | | | Maintenance |
| A court declaration stating that a legal marriage never | | | | Alimony or child support payments |
| existed | | | | Marital Settlement Agreement |
| Arbitration | | | | An out-of-court agreement that resolves all issues |
| Having a disputed matter settled by a third party who | | | | surrounding a divorce. |
| is not a judge. | | | | Mediation |
| Attachment | | | | A process by which a dispute is resolved and an |
| A court-ordered seizure of a debtor's property. | | | | agreement between two parties is reached with the |
| Attorney at Law | | | | assistance of a disinterested third party known as a |
| A state-licensed advocate who is hired to prepare, | | | | mediator. |
| manage and try a case in court. | | | | Non-Marital Property |
| Alternative Dispute Resolution | | | | Property that belongs exclusively to either the husband |
| A process of negotiation, mediation and arbitration, in | | | | or the wife and, as such, cannot be divided between |
| lieu of a trial, as a way to resolve issues pertaining to a | | | | the two. |
| judgment of divorce. | | | | No-Fault Divorce |
| Case Information Statement (CIS) | | | | A divorce granted with the mutual agreement of two |
| A financial document specifying the details of your | | | | spouses, or when one spouse has left the marriage |
| respective incomes, expenses, assets, and debts. | | | | for a certain period of time (varies by state). |
| Child Support | | | | Rehabilitative Alimony |
| Money paid by one ex-spouse to another toward their | | | | Alimony that helps the ex-spouse to become |
| child's expenses. | | | | self-reliant. |
| Common Law Marriage | | | | Separation |
| A marriage without a license or ceremony in which the | | | | The absence of one spouse from the household |
| couple cohabitated for a minimum number of years | | | | before a divorce. |
| (varies from state to state). | | | | Separation Agreement |
| Default | | | | A temporary agreement with regard to support, child |
| Failure to do something (such as make a payment) on | | | | custody and property for the period between the |
| time. | | | | onset of separation and the granting of a divorce. |
| Discovery | | | | Spouse |
| The legal procedures used to gather all the facts | | | | A husband or wife |
| necessary to settle a case or to prepare the case for | | | | Support |
| trial. | | | | Payment due to one spouse from the other regarding |
| Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce) | | | | housing, food, clothing, and other expenses. |
| The legal separation of a married couple so that each | | | | Transfer |
| one may be free to marry again. | | | | To switch legal ownership from one person to another. |
| Equitable Distribution | | | | Verification Statement |
| A fair division of the assets acquired during your | | | | An oath declaring that the information stated in a |
| marriage. | | | | document is true. |
| Inventory and Appraisement | | | | Visitation |
| A list of jointly-owned property along with the current | | | | The right for a non-custodial parent to visit his or her |
| value of each one. | | | | child. |