|
FAMILY / DIVORCE LAW GLOSSARY |
 |
Glossary of
Family Law Terms
A
B C
D E
F G
H I
J K L
M N
O P
Q R
S T
U V
W X Y Z #
Click on
the first letter of the word from the list above to go to
the appropriate section of the glossary.
Contact us if you would like a family law glossary or
one of other legal glossaries for
your website.
- M -
Magistrate: A person who performs the
functions of a judge but does not have the power to issue a court
order. Judges sometimes pass work, hearings and trials, to
magistrates or masters who then in turn make recommendations to
the judge as to the particulars of the case.
Maintenance: The same as spousal support or
alimony.
Marital Property: Marital property is
defined as all assets acquired during the marriage and prior to
the date of separation. All marital property is subject to fair
distribution between the marital partners. However, in NC, this
right to equitable distribution is not automatic, so one or both
spouses must specifically claim it prior to a divorce judgment.
Marital Settlement Agreement: A written
agreement entered into by the spouses getting divorced stating
their rights and agreements pertaining to property, support and
custody.
Marketable Title: A title not subject to
reasonable doubt or suspicion of invalidity in the mind of a
reasonable and intelligent person: one which a prudent person
guided by competent legal advice would be willing to accept and
purchase at market value.
Master: Hears cases like a judge. A
master's decision is reviewed by a judge before becoming final.
Mediation: A non-adversarial divorce
procedure where the spouses are assisted in reaching a settlement
by a neutral third party that is trained in the divorce process.
Mediator: A neutral person who presides
over the mediation process.
Military Allotment: A deduction from child
support from the salary of a non-custodial parent on active duty
in the United States military.
Minor: Someone under the age of majority.
In NC, a minor is defined as anyone who has not reached the age of
18.
Minute Order: An official record of a court
proceeding. It is prepared by the court clerk and is not a
judgment.
Mistrial: A trial that is terminated due to
some kind of error that would declare the trial invalid.
Modification: An order changing the terms
of another order.
Motion to Modify: A written request to the
court asking to change a previous order regarding child custody,
support, alimony or other divorce related decisions.
Motion: An application to the court
requesting an order or rule in favor of the applicant.
DISCLAIMER: The
information contained within this site is of a general nature
and is not meant to be a restatement of any rules of law. Your
use of this site does not create an attorney-client
relationship. You should hire an attorney to obtain legal
advice for your specific case.
© Copyright 2004, Family-Lawyers.com
and
Consultwebs.com, Inc., All rights reserved. Family / Divorce Law
Glossary.
|
