The Language of Divorce

A

Alimony

Financial payments made to help support a former spouse during separation or following a divorce. This may also be called maintenance or spousal support. In California, a judge will consider each party’s employment status, individual disposable incomes, contribution to building the home and family during the marriage, the length of the marriage, and much more.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Methods of resolving legal disputes without going through litigation, such as mediation or arbitration.

B

Best interests of the child
All child custody and visitation discussions and decisions are made with the ultimate goal of preserving the child’s happiness, security, mental health, and emotional development.

C

Community property state

Divorcing couples in community property states must divide anything earned or acquired during the marriage, including debt, 50/50.

Contested divorce

When there is a disagreement over divorce issues such as property division, child custody, child support, spousal support, or visitation. Often the most desirable option when looking to dissolve your marriage is to pursue an uncontested divorce.

Child custody

Having the rights to your child. Custody can be either legal, which means you have the right to make important decisions about your child’s welfare, or physical, which means that the child lives with you.

Child support guidelines

Guidelines established in each jurisdiction that outline the manner in which child support is calculated, typically based on each parent’s income and child’s needs.

D

Discovery
Information exchange process of a legal proceeding, including requests for documents, the taking of depositions, answering interrogatories, and more.

E

Equitable distribution
Method of dividing marital assets in a way that is deemed fair to both parties. California is not an equitable distribution state.

J

Joint legal custody

Both parents share the right to make important decisions about their child’s welfare, including religion, healthcare, and education.

Joint physical custody

Shared day-to-day responsibilities for a child’s care and upbringing.

M

Marital property

Generally, all assets and debts acquired during the marriage, including income, furniture, property, and businesses.

Mediation

A form of alternative dispute resolution utilizing a trained third party who attempts to facilitate discussion and bring the parties together in mutual agreement.

N

Non-custodial parent

The parent who does not have physical custody rights.

Non-marital property

Generally, all assets owned by either spouse prior to the marriage or acquired by them individually via gift or inheritance. It is also called separate property.

P

Parenting plan

Also called a custody and visitation agreement, it is the parents’ written agreement about time-sharing and decision-making.

Prenuptial agreement

An agreement decided upon prior to the marriage that outlines each party’s rights and responsibilities should the marriage terminate by death or divorce, typically covering asset distribution. Postnuptial agreements play the same role but they can be entered into after the marriage has already happened.

V

Visitation
The time a noncustodial parent spends with their child.

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