Family Law Glossary

Glossary of Family Law Terms

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Child Support: A legal responsibility that both parents have to provide adequate financial support for the children until each reaches the age of emancipation (In MI, this is usually at the age of 18 or when the child graduates from high school).

Collusion: An agreement to commit fraud. In a divorce proceeding, the husband and wife may lie to the court to facilitate obtaining the divorce in a quicker manner.

Common Law Marriage: Two people agree, live together and hold themselves out to the public as husband and wife, but do not go through a ceremonial marriage.

Complaint: A pretrial document filed in a court by one party against another that states a grievance, called a "cause of action."

Condonation: An express or implied forgiveness by the innocent spouse of the marital fault committed by the other spouse.

Contempt Of Court: Obstructing the authority of the court by intentionally violating a court order.

Corroboration: Additional evidence (sometimes in the form of a witness) of a point beyond what is offered by the person asserting the point.

Custodial Parent: The parent who has physical custody of the child.

Custody: Legal guardianship of the children. Frequently, in a divorce proceeding, custody will be shared between the parents ("shared custody"). Less frequently, there will be a reason to award custody only to one parent ("sole custody").