Divorce Definitions

Orders of Notice Notice ordered by the court requiring the party who filed for divorce to ensure that the other party is served by a sheriff with copies of the "Petition for Divorce". Abandonment When a parent leaves a child without enough care, supervision, support, or parental contact for an excessive period of time. 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. Annulment The legal dissolution of a marriage. In an annulment, the marriage is treated as though it never existed. Contested Divorce A divorce where the parties are unable or unwilling to come to a mutual agreement. Supervised visitation A form of visitation in which an adult supervisor must be present when the child is visiting with the non-custodial parent. Rehabilitative Alimony Rehabilitative alimony refers to alimony that is given to a spouse so that the spouse may “rehabilitate” herself or himself in the sense of acquiring greater earning power or training in order to become self-supporting. 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. Absolute divorce A divorce in which the marriage is completely dissolved and both parties become single.

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	Did You Know?
	An annulment is a court ruling that a supposed marriage was never valid. One of the most common grounds for annulment is fraud. For example, one person may have not disclosed to the other a prior divorce, a criminal record, or an unwillingness to have sexual intercourse. An annulment also may be granted may if one of the parties to the "marriage” was still married to someone else at the time of the marriage that is at issue. Other bases for annulments include marriage of an underage person, marriage to too close a blood relative, and marriage by a person under duress as the time of marriage.