Michigan Divorce Glossary
Alimony - Support paid by a former spouse to the other as ordered by a court in a divorce case.
Child Custody - A court's determination of which relative or parent should have legal and/or physical control and responsibility for a minor child. However, child custody also can come up if a child, close friend, relative, orstate agency questions whether one or both parents is unfit, dead, absent, incarcerated, or dangerous to the child's well-being.
Cohabitation - When two people live together. This can be grounds for terminating support in some places throughout the US.
Common Law Marriage - A common law marriage comes about when a woman and man who are free to marry agree to live together as husband and wife without legally getting married. To be common law married, both spouses must have intended to be husband and wife. Maryland is a state that does not recognize common law marriages.
Custodial Parent - The parent a child usually lives with, and the one who makes legal decisions involving the child. There are several different types of custody arrangements.
Dissolution of Marriage - Another term used to describe divorce.
Family Court - A court with jurisdiction over divorce, child support, and other family related legal issues.
Fault Grounds - Marital wrongs that can be used to grant a divorce.
Guardian Ad Litem - Usually appointed by the court, an adult who represents the interest of a minor child in a divorce in a non-legal way. He or she is a trained counselor, social worker, or other professional.
Jurisdiction - The power of the court to rule on issues related to the parties, property and their children.
Misdiagnosis - A doctor's failure to properly diagnose or identify a patient's medical condition. A medical professional can be held liable for any damages that result from a misdiagnosis if the medical error was a result of carelessness.
Occupational Therapy - Therapy designed to enable the injured person to work with their hands and arms.
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