AZ Court Help and Arizona courthouse accessibility information           Increase Font Size

A- A A+

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.

Family Law

Search for glossary terms (regular expression allowed)

Glossaries

Term Main definition
Decree

The final decision of the court on a case brought before it.

Default

A failure of the defendant to file the right papers within the time allowed or to appear in court during a scheduled hearing.

Default Judgment

A court order that is issued when an opposing person fails to answer a complaint or appear for trial.

Defendant

The person against whom a lawsuit is started; sometimes this person is called a respondent.

Synonyms - respondent
Delinquent Act

An act committed by a juvenile that if committed by an adult would be a crime.

Denial

An answer to a complaint in which the defendant denies the allegations made by the plaintiff.

Department of Economic Security

The agency in Arizona responsible for overseeing the IV-D and public assistance programs and to coordinate their activities.

Synonyms - DES
Department of Health and Human Services

Federal agency which includes the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE).

Dependency

A relationship in which one depends on another for support in whole or in part.

Deponent

Someone who gives a deposition.

Deposition

Testimony taken orally or in writing outside of a courtroom by question and answer under oath. It may be read in court and may be admitted by the judge as evidence.

Discovery

The procedures available to a person to a lawsuit to learn relevant facts which are known to other entities or witnesses, in order to enable the person to prepare for trial.

Dismiss

To close out a case without granting the relief sought in the complaint; a case may be dismissed by the people or by the court.

Disregard

In TANF cases, the amount of child support, up to $50, actually paid by the obligor and disbursed to the aid recipient in addition to the monthly TANF grant. Termed "disregard" because it is not considered by IV-A to determine TANF eligibility.

Dissolution of Marriage

The term used in Arizona Law for divorce.

Synonyms - divorce
Divide

Split the day or weekend (not necessarily equally) between both parents.

Division of Child Support Services

The division of DES charged with the statewide administration and operation of IV-D child support programs.

Synonyms - DCSS
DNA Testing

A way to determine the parents of a child by testing the chromosomes of each parent and child through taking a blood sample.

Synonyms - genetic testing
Docket

A written list containing brief notes of all the important acts done in court in each case. The name "docket" or " trial docket" is sometimes given to the list or calendar of cases set for trial or other hearings at a specified time and date.

Synonyms - trial docket
Docket Number

A number that is given to each case as it is filed in the court. This number should be listed on all papers that are filed with the court.

Search