Family Law Term

Complaint

Definition

The initial legal document that starts a court case. In family court, this could be a Complaint for Divorce, Complaint for Custody, or Complaint for Support.

Related terms

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate)
A trained volunteer appointed by the court to advocate for a child's best interests, often in abuse or neglect cases.
Change of Venue
A request to move a case from one court location to another, usually because the child has moved to a different county or state.
Contempt of Court
A finding that someone willfully violated a court order. Can result in fines, makeup parenting time, attorney fee awards, or jail time in extreme cases.
Custody (Legal)
The right to make major decisions about a child's life: education, healthcare, religion, extracurricular activities. Can be sole (one parent decides) or joint (both parents decide together).
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