Family Law

Each county has adopted and implemented an educational program for the purpose of educating persons about the impacts that divorce, the restructuring of families and judicial involvement have on children.

A court determination establishing the conditions under which a parent may be with his or her child. Also known as Parenting Time.

A determination that one person is the parent of a child and therefore is responsible for child support and may be entitled to parental rights and responsibilities and parent/child contact.

(Used to be known as custody) Things that the court has to decide when parents are getting a divorce. Included are where the child lives and who takes care of them; who can make medical decisions for them; and who has access to school and medical records.

Case management, dispute resolution process using mediation and arbitration concepts to help implement parenting plans

A written document containing an agreement between parents indicating how a child will be raised and cared for after the parents separate or divorce. A written parenting plan is required whenever parents ask the court to order joint custody.

The time a child spends with each parent according to a court order.

A person who has appeared in court in regard to an action and whose rights are subject to the jurisdiction of the court.

The amount of a collection, full or partial, which is paid to a custodial parent, including the $50 TANF disregard.

Past care expenses are those expenses for the actual costs of the pregnancy, childbirth and any genetic testing, and other related costs.

Past support is an amount determined to be due for the period between the commencement of the proceeding and the date that current child support is ordered to begin.

A decision that establishes a man as the legal father of a child. Paternity must be decided before a father can have parental rights, if the parents were never married.

The person who receives the child support payments for the child. See: Obligee

A printed statement of payments received by the court clerk or the support payment clearinghouse.

The person ordered by the court to make child support payments. This is usually the parent who is not living with the child. See: Obligor

The group of people selected to decide the facts and render a verdict in a civil or criminal trial.

A formal written request filed with the Clerk of the Court requesting the court to take action.

An application asking an appellate court to examine a ruling or decision.

Someone who brings an action, such as a complaint.

Response of a defendant to the criminal charges stated; the plea is usually "guilty" or "not guilty."