From your initial consultation and through the entirety of your case you will learn an abundance of legal terms that you may not be familiar with. In order to introduce you to some of the common terms, the family law experts here at Oxendine Law are happy to provide access to our Family Law glossary. This list of standard legal terminology is meant to serve as a resource and guide for our clients. While this list is far from comprehensive, it can be a helpful starting point for many people.

Action – a lawsuit or legal proceeding in a court of law.

Affidavit – a written statement that is taken under oath.

Appeal – the process for requesting that a higher court review the decision made at the trial court level.

Burden of Proof – the responsibility for one side to produce sufficient evidence in support of a specific fact or issue in order to persuade the court.

Contempt – failure to follow a court order that can result in punishment from the court.

Default – one party’s failure or refusal to answer a complaint, motion, or petition.

Defendant/Respondent – The person answering the lawsuit after filing and service.

Dissolution – the legal end of a marriage following a divorce.

Equitable Distribution – a method for fairly dividing marital property and assets (typically property bought or acquired during the marriage and accounts created or contributed to during the marriage) between spouses during the divorce process.

Grounds for Divorce – the legal basis for a divorce proceeding.

Legal Separation – the period of time beginning when the parties stopped having sexual relations.

Marital Property – includes all property that is acquired by either spouse during the course of a marriage.

Order / Judgment – a ruling or decision made by a court pertaining to a specific legal certain matter.

Plaintiff/Petitioner – the spouse who files the divorce petition or otherwise initiates the case.

Reconciliation – when spouses who are already separated or have begun the divorce process choose to get back together and resume sexual relations.

Uncontested Divorce – when the parties reach an agreement as to all pending issues prior to filing an action.

This helpful guide can assist you in the early stages of any family law matter, but the real explanation should come from an experienced family law attorney that can explain these concepts in detail. For more information, contact Oxendine Law at (770) 497-8688 today to schedule a meeting. Don’t forget to follow along with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for additional family law tips, news, and more helpful information.