| Acknowledgement of Service |
the form which confirms receipt of a divorce or judicial separation petition |
| Affidavit |
a written statement sworn on oath to be true |
| Ancillary Relief |
financial orders made in divorce proceedings |
| Answer |
a written reply to a divorce petition |
| Circuit Judge |
the judge who deals primarily with contested children cases and appeals |
| Clean Break |
a once and for all financial settlement with no comeback! |
| Consent Order |
an order made by a Court giving effect to agreed terms |
Contact
Co-Respondent |
the term given to a parent seeing a child who no longer lives with him or her
a person with whom a Respondent to divorce proceedings is alleged to have committed adultery |
| Court Welfare Officer or CAFCASS Officer |
a person who prepares an independent report on "contact" or "residence" arrangements between the parties and their children |
| Decree Nisi |
the "first" divorce Court order confirming that a ground for divorce has been established |
| Decree Absolute |
the final order which brings the marriage to an end. |
| District Judge |
the Judge who deals with the divorce, procedural and financial matters |
| Family Proceedings Court |
the Magistrates' Court which deals with family matters |
| Financial Dispute Resolution Appointment |
the second Court appointment in ancillary relief proceedings when a Judge looks at settlement proposals on a without prejudice basis |
| First Appointment |
the first Court appointmentin ancillary relief proceedings when a Judge considers what information needs to be disclosed by both parties |
| Injunction |
an emergency Order of the Court preventing or requiring action |
| Maintenance Pending Suit |
temporary maintenance for a spouse |
| Periodical Payments |
maintenance payable on a weekly or monthly basis |
| Petition |
the document by which a divorce or judicial separation is applied for. Petitioner - the person who applies for a divorce or judicial separation |
| Prohibited Steps Order |
an order prohibiting certain steps in relation to a child; for example, a change of surname or removal from the country |
| Property Adjustment Order |
an Order for the sale or transfer of property from one party to the other |
| Request for Directions for Trial |
the application for a Decree Nisi |
Residence (previously custody) |
an order stating with whom a child is to live |
| Respondent |
the other spouse upon whom the divorce or judicial separation proceedings are served |
| Service |
the process by which documents are sent to the party they are addressed to (usually via their solicitor or the Court) |
| Specific Issue Order |
an order determining a specific issue relating to a child; for example, an educational dispute or a dispute over medical treatment |
| Statement of Arrangements |
a form setting out the proposed arrangements for the children of the family |
| Without Prejudice Offers |
a way of making settlement proposals which if not accepted are not mentioned to the judge |