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
Glossaries
| Term | Main definition |
|---|---|
| Emancipation | A status of independence of children from their parents due to age or circumstance. |
| Equal Parenting Time | A parenting time arrangement that allows both parents to spend essentially equal time, each year, with the children. |
| Evidence | Testimony of a witness, an object or written documents submitted in court about the facts in a case. |
| Ex Parte | Latin phrase for relief that is sought (and may be granted) without notice to the opposing person. Commonly used in obtaining an order of protection. |
| Excess | The remaining amount of a support payment forwarded to the TANF family in addition to the $50 disregard after the state has retained a portion to reimburse itself for the TANF grant of the current month. The excess plus the $50 disregard will not, however, exceed the amount of the current support set out in the court order. |
| Execution | A legal remedy used to enforce a judgment, by which a law enforcement officer may confiscate property of the debtor. Also refers to the process of serving a civil arrest warrant. |
| Exhibit | A document or object that is offered into evidence during a trial or hearing. |
| Extra Education Expenses | Extra education expenses refer to any reasonable and necessary expenses for attending private or special schools or necessary expenses to meet particular educational needs of a child, when such expenses are incurred by agreement of both parents or ordered by the court. |
| Extraordinary Child Expenses | Extraordinary child expenses are expenses associated with the special needs of gifted or handicapped children. |