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

To dismiss a case without any further consideration or hearing. To dismiss without prejudice means the case can be brought to court again. To dismiss with prejudice means that the case can never be ...

settlement conference

Legal services; Family law

A settlement conference is a meeting with a judge before trial to explore ways to settle your issues. The meeting includes you, the other party, and your lawyers (if you have them). The judge may or ...

witness list

Legal services; Family law

The list of people you intend to call during your trial or hearing. The judge will tell you when the witness list is due. If you do not file your witness list, the court may sanction you by not ...

domestic violence

Legal services; Family law

Violence or abuse is a pattern of behavior used to establish power and control over another person through fear and intimidation, often including the threat or actual use of violence. Abuse of family ...

motion

Legal services; Family law

The name of the paper you must file to ask a judge to make a ruling or take some other action. A motion is the first step in the three-step process called motion practice.

order

Legal services; Family law

A command or direction given by a judge. An order can be in writing or spoken. Violating a court order is very serious and can result in being held in contempt or sanctioned in other ways.