Divorce and family law proceedings in Texas necessitate that both parties adhere to certain procedures and orders. If you haven’t done any research prior to the start of the proceedings, you will come across various legal terms that sound like Greek during court hearings or when reading legal documents. Even if you have a divorce or family lawyer to guide you through the process and documentation, there are a few terms you should be familiar with in order to follow the proceedings and understand any communication from your lawyer or the courts. In this blog post, we will look at a few divorce and family law terms that are important to understand before going through a divorce, whether in Texas or elsewhere.
1. Absolute Divorce
An absolute divorce is when a marriage legally ends, thus, legally freeing both the parties to remarry.
2. Alimony
The legal duty on one spouse to provide financial support to their spouse before or after divorce, is referred to as alimony.
3. Alias Summons
It is a second summon served when the first summon is unsuccessful.
4. Annulment
Annulment is when a marriage is declared null and void. In the eyes of the law, the couple was never married.
5. Custodial & Non-Custodial Parent
The custodial parent is the one that has physical custody of the child, whereas the non-custodial parent does not have such custody.
6. Condonation
Condonation is the act of voluntary forgiveness by an innocent spouse of an offense committed by their guilty spouse, with an implied condition that the act shall not be repeated.
7. Discovery
Discovery is a way of obtaining valuable information that is pertinent to a divorce case, such as on the children, assets, and debts, through depositions, written discovery, Subpoenas, and Inventory and Appraisements.
8. Equitable Distribution
In divorce law, equitable distribution is the “fair” division of the property and debts acquired by the couple during their marriage. The assets that are categorized as separate property are not included for distribution.
9. Fault Divorce
Fault divorce is when the court grants divorce to a couple on the grounds of substantial proofs that justify the fault of the guilty spouse. Fault-divorce can be on various grounds, such as adultery and inability to have sexual intercourse.
10. Home State
Home State is the state where the child/children from the marriage stayed with a parent, guardian, or person acting as a parent for at least six consecutive months immediately before filing for child support, custody, or any such comparable pleading for support in the court. If a child is less than six months old, their place of birth is considered to be the home state.
11. Legal Separation
Legal separation is an alternative to divorce, wherein the court allows the spouses to live separately while remaining legally married. Like divorce, however, the parties can file petitions for alimony, child custody, and other comparable support.
12. Marital Property
The property acquired by a couple during the subsistence of their marriage.
13. Pendente Lite
It is a Latin term, which means ‘awaiting litigation’. This term refers to the temporary relief the court awards to either or both the parties while their case is pending for hearing. In a divorce case, a pendente lite order mostly is to provide financial support to the low-income or no-income earning spouse.
14. Prenuptial Agreement
A prenuptial agreement is a ‘before-marriage contract or agreement’ that is signed by both partners concerning the ownership of their assets and financial rights in the event their marriage fails.
15. Residency Requirement
To use a specific state’s court system, you need to fulfill the residency requirements to prove that you fall under that state law’s jurisdiction. Residency requirements may slightly vary from state to state. Residency requirements in divorce are often that either of the spouses must be a resident of the county in which the suit is filed or domiciliary of that particular state before the petition is filed in the court.
16. Spousal Maintenance
A court’s order for alimony is known as spousal maintenance.
17. Subpoena
It is a legal document issued by the court at the request of the petitioner in a case. The court’s legal order compels the document receiver to appear in court either to present documents and/or other tangible things or give testimony at a trial or hearing.
18. Temporary Spousal Support
It is temporary financial support given by one spouse to the other while the divorce action is pending.
19. Uncontested Divorce
This term is used when both spouses agree to divorce without any disagreement or court trials regarding children, money, or property.
20. Visitation
It is the non-custodial parent’s right to visit and spend time with their child(ren).
Conclusion
Although divorce lawyers are there to help you understand all such legal terminology, a little research with go a long way to help you better craft your case and follow proceedings. Whether you’re filing for a divorce, alimony, or child custody, Ready Divorce Service is in your corner. Talk to our team today to discuss your case and explore the options.
Read More: The Most Common Reasons for Divorce in Texas
Looking for more advice about divorce? Here are a few of our favorite resources:
- The 9 Basic Steps for a Divorce in Texas
- 8 Things You MUST DO After Your Divorce is Final
- General Warranty Deed vs Special Warranty Deed
- 10 Fascinating Facts about Divorce in Texas
✅ Get Help With Your Divorce in Texas
If you’re looking for a fast, affordable way to complete your divorce, working with a service that understands Texas law can save you time, money, and frustration.
Ready Divorce Service has helped hundreds of individuals complete uncontested divorces across Texas—without unnecessary delays or high legal fees.
👉 Visit and complete a Divorce Questionnaire
📞 Call: (469) 913-4000
