Family law

Family law

Law that deals with family-related issues such as spousal abuse, legitimacy, adoption, surrogacy, child abuse, and child abduction.

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Family law

The response to the complaint. The answer is the first document filed by a defendant in a court case. It responds to the plaintiff's complaint. The defendant may deny the plaintiff's allegations, may ...

marital property

Legal services; Family law

Marital property is the property and debt that a husband and wife acquire during marriage for the benefit of the marriage and may include property acquired when the couple lived together before ...

hearing

Legal services; Family law

A court proceeding at which parties, and perhaps witnesses, come to the court to speak. A hearing is different from a trial in a number of ways, including that it is typically shorter and sometimes ...

stay of execution

Legal services; Family law

The stopping, by court order, of an execution of judgment. A stay is usually temporary.

argument

Legal services; Family law

Persuasion by laying out the facts, the law, and the reasoning that connects them. Arguments are made in documents filed in the court, or orally at a hearing or trial.

on-going support obligation

Legal services; Family law

The on-going child support obligation is the amount that you are currently required to pay on a monthly basis. If CSSD is garnishing your wages, they might be withholding more than your on-going ...

respondent

Legal services; Family law

The person who responds to the petitioner. If you did not file the petition to start a court case, and you are named in the case, you are the respondent. In family matters, the terms petitioner and ...