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Definition of Common Terms
- Dissolution
- Better known as divorce, divides the assets and debts of a couple, determines custody and visitation and child and spousal support, and returns the parties to status of unmarried.
- Joint Custody
- This means both joint legal and joint physical custody. Parents agree to share it all.
- Joint Legal Custody
- Both parents share in the right and responsibility to make decisions relating to the health, education and welfare of their children.
- Joint Physical Custody
- Children spend a significant amount of time with each parent.
- Legal Custody
- The right and responsibility of parents to make decisions relating to the health, education and welfare of their children.
- Legal Separation
- Divides the assets and debts of a couple, determines custody and visitation and child and spousal support, but leaves the parties legally married.
- Mediation
- A process in which parents are provided a neutral setting to meet together and work out an agreement about custody and visitation issues that are in the best interests of their children.
- Mediation Orientation
- An orientation is held every Wednesday in Department F-2 at 3:30p.m. These are informal sessions which all adults are welcome to attend. A mediator will explain what will happen in court, what your rights are, and answer your questions about custody, and visitation. No appointment is necessary.
- Mediator
- An employee of the court who is a skilled professional with extensive clinical experience in the fields of psychology, marriage, family and child counseling, or social work. They are trained in conflict resolution.
- Nullity
- Restores the parties to the status of not having been married.
- Parenting Plan
- An agreement between the parents that spells out the specific details of custody and visitation arrangements for their children.
- Paternity
- Proceeding to establish who is the father of a child, or to establish the fact of a father-child relationship.
- Physical Custody
- How much time the children spend with each parent, where the children live, how day to day responsibilities are fulfilled.
- Restraining Order
- Proceeding to obtain court orders to protect a person from physical violence from a family member, or a person with whom they have lived or had a dating relationship.
- Sole Legal Custody
- One parent has the right and responsibility to make decisions relating to the health, education and welfare of their children.
- Sole Physical Custody
- Children reside primarily with one parent and have visitation with the other parent.
- Supervised Visitation
- Visitation limited to special situations where a third party, specified by the court, is present. Supervised or monitored visitation may occur when there is a need to protect children because of substance abuse, child abuse or neglect, family violence, or other serious problems, or when children are getting to know a previously absent parent.
- Visitation
- Times when one parent has the children and is fully responsible for them.
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