Family Law Glossary
Family Law Terms -A-
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #
Absolute divorce: Declaration by a court that the marriage has been dissolved so that the parties are no longer married to each other and are free to marry someone else.
Abduction: Unlawfully taking another.
Ab initio: Latin for "from the beginning."
Action: Judicial proceeding.
Adultery: Sexual relations between a married person and another who is not that person’s spouse.
Affidavit: A written statement under oath.
Agreement: Mutual assent between two or more parties; normally leads to a contract; may be verbal or written.
Alientation of action: The defendant diminishes the martial relationship between the plaintiff and the latter’s spouse.
Answer: Pleading filed by the defendant that responds to a complaint, petition, or motion.
Alimony: Money or other property paid to support one’s spouse after a divorce or separation, in some cases.
Annulment: A declaration by the court that a valid marriage never existed.
Appeal: A request to the higher court for review of the lower court’s decision and reversal of the judgment.
Arbitration: Submitting a dispute to a third party who will help resolve the issue between the parties.
