PUBLISHER’S UPDATE: Here is one of my favorites posts about divorce terms and their definitions from back on August 15th, 2008! We have a ton of interesting articles in our archives of the Ohio Family Law Blog. Use our Search tool and enjoy a few oldie but goodies!
What’s A Deposition? Common Divorce Terms [And Their Definitions]
If you find yourself involved in a divorce, custody case or other family law litigation you may run across some unfamiliar divorce terms. Here are some common ones with a short definition:
- AFFIDAVIT – Information provided under oath. Often times pertaining to current finances, debts and assets.
- BAILIFF – The judge’s assistant who helps with the court docket and often oversees the decorum in the courtroom.
- CONTEMPT – An action requesting the court to punish a person for violating a prior Court order.
- CONTINUANCE – A delay or postponement of a scheduled court appearance.
- CPO – A “civil protection order”. An order which can be issued by the court in a domestic violence proceeding requiring a person to vacate a home and cease all contact/communication.
- DEPOSITION – A form of discovery where opposing counsel gets to ask questions orally to a party or witness under oath in the presence of a court reporter before trial.
- DISCOVERY – The early phase of a case where each side requests information relevant to the issues at hand. This phase may include depositions, interrogatories, production of document requests, and requests for admissions.
- DV – Short for a “Domestic Violence” action.
- GAL – Short for “Guardian Ad Litem”. Typically, an advocate/attorney for a child. Please click here for links to several articles on GAL’s on this blog.
- GUIDELINES – Short for “child support guidelines.” Calculations made based on a statutory formula with many variables, which presents a starting point for child support determinations.
- IN CAMERA – A private interview between the Judge/Magistrate and typically a child without the parents or lawyers in the room.
- INTERROGATORIES – Part of the discovery phase where written questions are submitted to the opposing party for response.
- MAGISTRATE – A lawyer appointed by the Judge to hear cases and make recommendations of the findings of the facts and the outcome. Virtually, the same power as the judge.
- PRO SE – A party who is not represented by a lawyer is acting Pro Se.
- QDRO – Short for a “Qualified Domestic Relations Order”. This is a specially drafted Court order with many technical nuances dividing a person’s retirement account.
- RESTRAINING ORDER – An optional order that is typically issued at the start of a divorce proceeding to maintain the current status, avoid harassment, prohibit disposal of assets and to prohibit retaliation for the filing of the action.
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