Docket Number: A unique number the court clerk assigns to a case. It must be used on all future papers filed in the court case.
Filing: Giving the court clerk your legal papers.
Financial Affidavit: A sworn statement of income, expenses, property (called assets) and debts (called liabilities).
Income Withholding Folder: A court order to deduct child support or alimony payments from someone’s income.
Judgment File: A permanent court record of the court’s final decision.
Legal Separation: A court order describing the conditions under which two married people will live separately.
No-Fault Divorce: The most common kind of divorce, where no one needs to prove that the husband or wife caused the marriage to end.
Parties: The people who are named as plaintiff and defendant on legal papers.
Paternity: Legal fatherhood.
Pendente Lite Order: A court order made before a divorce is granted.
Plaintiff: The person who starts the divorce.
