In the fall of 2024, the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) mailed letters to parents who once had an open dependency and/or severance case.
Did you receive a letter? Visit the DCS letter page for more information.
In the fall of 2024, the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) mailed letters to parents who once had an open dependency and/or severance case.
Did you receive a letter? Visit the DCS letter page for more information.
Term | Main definition |
---|---|
Caretaker Relative | A person who receives TANF payments on behalf of a beneficiary incapable of managing the funds. |
Case | Lawsuit, suit or action being resolved through the court system. |
Case Law | Law composed of previous written decisions of appellate courts. |
Case Number | A number assigned by the court to identify your specific case. The case number in domestic relations is usually preceded by one or two letters such as: D, DO, or DR. |
Central Registry | An entity required by all reciprocating jurisdictions to receive, log and distribute interstate cases. |
Certified Copy | A copy of a paper which has been signed and certified as a true copy by the officer in whose custody the original is entrusted. |
Chambers | Private offices of a judge or justice. |
Chief Justice | Presiding justice of the Arizona Supreme Court. |
Child Support | An amount of money that a parent must give to another parent to help with the living, medical and educational expenses of a child. |
Child Support Enforcement Administration | Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) |
Child Support Guidelines | Standards adopted by the Arizona Supreme Court to guide parents and the courts when determining child support obligations. |
Child Support Order | A written order from the court that states: which parent must pay child support; which parent will receive child support; the amount of child support payment; how often the payment must be made. |
Child Support Worksheet | A document, used to enter financial information and calculate the amount of child support according to the Child Support Guidelines. |
Civil Action | A non-criminal case concerning the claim of one individual or entity against another. |
Civil Law | Area of law that deals with disputes between individuals, not involving crimes. |
Claim | Legal and factual grounds for a court to grant relief. |
Clearinghouse | A central location that receives, disburses and monitors IV-D support payments. |
Clerk of the Court | An appointed or elected person who is in charge of keeping records, accounts and managing regular activities for a court. |
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) | Rules implementing federal laws. In IV-D, these rules are contained in 45 CFR Part 300-399. |
Complaint | Legal paper telling the court and the defendant what the claims of the plaintiff are. This document is filed with the court at the beginning of a case. |