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 |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| Conciliation Court | A branch of the Superior Court to which a spouse may apply in an effort to preserve a marriage or from whom a parent may request assistance in settling disputes regarding children. Services provided may include: parent education classes, counseling, mediation, parenting conferences, evaluations, and parenting coordination. |
| Conclusions of Law | The decision made by the judge by applying the law to the facts of the case. |
| Constable | An elected official whose primary duty is to deliver and return legal notices and documents as directed by a Justice of the Peace. |
| Contempt | A willful disregard or disobedience of the order of the court. |
| Contested Case | An action in which the defendant opposes the relief sought by the plaintiff. |
| Continuance | Postponement (delay) of a court hearing. |
| Contract | An agreement that may be enforceable through a court action. |
| Conviction | A decision by the judge or a verdict by the jury determining that a person charged with a criminal offense is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. |
| Counsel | See Lawyer or Attorney at Law in this Glossary. |
| Counterclaim | A claim asserted by a defendant against the plaintiff. |
| County Attorney | Attorney elected in each county to prosecute criminal cases on behalf of the public and to represent the county in civil matters. |
| Court Administrator | Person who assists the presiding judge in managing the court. |
| Court Commissioner | Person with authority to do the job of a judge in certain types of cases. |
| Court of Record | Courts in which a record is made of all proceedings. Justice of the Peace and Municipal Courts are not courts of record, but they sometimes do keep records of court proceedings. |