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Age of Majority
Attained upon one's eighteenth birthday. However, a child support order will remain in effect beyond attainment of eighteen as long as the child continuously attends an accredited high school on a full time basis, the child is determined to be mentally or physically disabled by the court, or both parents have agreed to continue support after the age of 18 and it is incorporated in a divorce decree.
Buccal Swab
A recognized form of genetic testing used to determine paternity, which involves a q-tip type instrument for collecting saliva from individuals submitting to testing.
Legal Separation
A court order arranging the terms (custody, support, etc.) under which a married couple will live separately. This addresses the same issues as divorce, but does not completely dissolve the marriage.
Absolute divorce
A divorce in which the marriage is completely dissolved and both parties become single.
Residual Physical Custodial Rights
A custody agreement when one parent is awarded visitation by a pre-arranged schedule worked out between the parents or the courts.
Lump-Sum Alimony
Lump-sum alimony or alimony in gross refers to alimony that is a fixed payment that generally will be made regardless of circumstances that would be a basis for termination of other types of alimony.
Domestic Violence Petition
This form serves as your application for a protective order; after obtaining one from the courthouse clerk, completing and returning it, it will be reviewed by a judge.
Custodial parent
The parent who has physical custody of the children.
Reasonable visitation
A form of visitation in which the parents work out a schedule of visitation for the non-custodial parent.
Annulment
The legal dissolution of a marriage. In an annulment, the marriage is treated as though it never existed.
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