GLOSSARY TERMS - BE SURE TO REVIEW BEFORE YOU DO YOUR EXAM
Completion requirements
access
the right of a non-custodial parent to visit a child and inquire about important issues in his or her lifeadultery
voluntary sexual relations between a married person and someone other than that person's spouseaffidavit
a written statement that is sworn under oath to be the truthaffinity
a relationship created by marriageage of majority
the age at which a person is legally regarded an adult in Alberta, 18Agent
a person given the legal power to act on another's behalfannulment
a court order declaring that a marriage is void and never really existedcivil law
the branch of law that governs the relations between individualscohabitation
the state of living together as spouses though not legally marriedcollusion
the agreement between a couple to deceive the court in a divorce hearingcommon-law union
an informal term for the relationship of a couple who live together in most respects as if married but who haven't gone through a legal marriage ceremonycondonation
the forgiving by one spouse of behavior on the part of the other that would otherwise provide grounds for divorceconnivance
the permitting or encouraging of one spouse by the other to do something that would provide grounds for divorceconsanguinity
a blood relationshipcriminal law
the branch of law that sets out certain acts as crimes and punishes those actscustodial parent
the parent awarded custody of a childcustody
the legal right to care for and control a childdamages
money awarded by a court to a plaintiff in a civil action to compensate for a wrong suffereddesertion
the physical absence of one spouse with the intention not to returnthe legal dissolution of a marriage
duress
the compelling of a person to do something against his or her will by means of force or the threat of forceestate
the entire collection of assets a person owns at deathextended family
the family that goes beyond husband, wife, and child to include relativesfamily violence
any behavior by one family member against another that may endanger the person's survival, security, or well-beingintestate
lacking a will at deathjoint custody
a court order giving both parents legal responsibility for important decisions regarding their childliving will
a personal directive combined with an enduring power of attorneymarriage
the legal union of two people, (historically of a man and a woman) to the exclusion of all othersmarriage contract
a contract between spouses outlining their obligations to each other and the ownership of propertymatrimonial home
the home in which a married couple livesmatrimonial property
property acquired by spouses during their marriagenon-custodial parent
the parent denied custody of a child (but usually required to provide financial support)non-matrimonial property
property acquired by spouses during their marriagepeace bond
a court order requiring a person to keep the peace and obey any conditions the judge sees fit to imposepersonal directive
a document instructing a doctor on the medical treatment you want if you end up unable to communicatepetitioner
in a divorce case, the person who applies to the court for a divorcepower of attorney
a document giving another person authority to act on your behalfrestraining order
a court order requiring a violently abusive person (often a spouse or partner) to stop molesting, annoying, or harassing another partyseparation
the partial ending of a marriage whereby the spouses no longer live togetherseparation agreement
a contract made between separated spouses outlining such things as the division of property and mutual obligationssole custody
a court order giving one parent legal responsibility for important decisions regarding his or her childmoney paid by one spouse to the other after their marriage has broken down
statute
a law passed by a governmentsurrogate mother
a woman who carries the fertilized egg of another woman to term.will
a legal document a person draws up to specify how his or her property is to be distributed at death