Glossary of Child Support Terms

Child support laws vary in the United States. We provide legal definitions for terms used in court-ordered support payment documents, custody and visitation and other divorce paperwork.

Here are the results for the letter p

parens patriae: A doctrine that-enables a state to take jurisdiction over a minor living within its border. This is the basis for determining what state will assume jurisdiction in a child custody case.
paternity: The legal, biological relationship between father and child
paternity acknowledgement: A legal document signed by both the mother and the father that has the legal effect of a court order for paternity
paternity adjudication: Legal determination of a child's father
physical custody: The parent with whom the child resides has physical custody. Depending upon arrangements, it may be joint or sole custody.
prenuptial agreement: Legal contract signed by two people before they get married. Typically, it involves limitations on a spouse's rights to property, Support and inheritance upon divorce.
primary caretaker: The parent who provides majority of the child's ongoing daily care
pro se divorce: Divorce in which each spouse represents themselves in court, without an attorney

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