A

Acknowledgment of Service – A legal document confirming that the respondent has received the divorce application and stating whether they intend to contest it.

Adoption Order – A court order transferring parental responsibility from the birth parents to adoptive parents, making the child legally theirs.

Adultery – Voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone of the opposite sex who is not their spouse. No longer a required reason for divorce under the no-fault system.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) – A method of resolving family disputes without going to court, such as mediation, arbitration, or collaborative law.

Ancillary Relief – An older term for financial proceedings in divorce cases, now referred to as a financial remedy application.

Applicant – The person who starts legal proceedings, such as a divorce or financial claim.

Arbitration – A private legal process where an arbitrator makes a binding decision on a family dispute, avoiding a court trial.

Asset Freezing Order – A court order preventing one party from selling or transferring assets during financial proceedings.

B

Barrister – A lawyer who provides specialist legal advice and represents clients in court, often instructed by a solicitor.

Beneficial Ownership – The right to benefit from a property or asset, even if the legal title is in someone else’s name.

Bigamy – The criminal offence of marrying someone while still legally married to another person.

Binding Agreement – A legally enforceable agreement between parties, often used in financial settlements.

C

Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) – An independent organisation representing children’s interests in family court proceedings.

C100 Form – A form used to apply for a Child Arrangements Order or other child-related court orders.

Child Arrangements Order (CAO) – A court order stating where a child will live and how they will spend time with each parent.

Child Maintenance Service (CMS) – A government agency that calculates and enforces child maintenance payments when parents cannot agree.

Clean Break Order – A financial court order ending any financial ties between divorced spouses, preventing future claims.

Coercive Control – A form of domestic abuse where a person uses controlling behaviours to isolate, intimidate, or manipulate their partner.

Conditional Order – The first stage of a divorce or civil partnership dissolution, confirming that the court sees no reason why the process cannot be completed. Previously called Decree Nisi. A financial agreement in relation to the division of assets cannot be submitted to the court without this.

Contact Order – An older term for a court order setting out a child’s contact arrangements with a parent. Now part of a Child Arrangements Order.

Consent Order – A legally binding financial agreement approved by the court, usually following a divorce settlement.

D

Decree Absolute – The final order that legally ends a marriage. Now called the Final Order.

Decree Nisi – The provisional order in divorce proceedings, now known as the Conditional Order.

Dispute Resolution Hearing – A court hearing in child proceedings where the judge encourages parties to reach an agreement before proceeding further.

Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programme (DVPP) – A course designed to help offenders change their behaviour in cases of domestic abuse.

E

Early Neutral Evaluation (ENE) – A non-binding process where an independent expert assesses the likely outcome of a dispute to encourage settlement.

Expert Witness – A professional, such as a psychologist, who provides expert evidence in court.

F

Family Assistance Order – A short-term order providing support to a family from a Cafcass worker or social worker.

Family Consultant – A trained therapist or coach who assists separating couples in managing their separation and co-parenting.

Financial Dispute Resolution Hearing (FDR) – A court hearing where the judge helps parties negotiate a financial settlement.

Final Order – The legal document confirming the end of a marriage or civil partnership. Previously called Decree Absolute.

Foster Carer – A person who provides temporary care for a child who cannot live with their birth parents.

G

Gaslighting – A form of psychological abuse where someone manipulates a person into doubting their own memories or perception of reality.

I

Independent Financial Adviser (IFA) – A financial expert providing impartial advice on dividing assets during divorce.

Interim Order – A temporary court order made while final decisions are pending.

Intervenor – A third party claiming an interest in property, a business or other asset involved in financial remedy proceedings.

L

Legal Aid – Government funding to help cover legal costs for those who meet financial eligibility criteria.

Litigant in Person – Someone representing themselves in court without a solicitor or barrister.

M

McKenzie Friend – A person who supports someone in court when they do not have legal representation but cannot speak on their behalf.

Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) – A meeting to determine whether mediation is suitable before a court application can be made.

Non-Molestation Order – A protective court order preventing someone from threatening, harassing, or being violent towards another person.

O

Occupation Order – A court order regulating who can live in a property, often used in domestic abuse cases.

P

Parental Responsibility – The legal rights, duties, and responsibilities a parent has for their child.

Pension Sharing Order – A court order dividing pension assets between spouses upon divorce.

Post-Nuptial Agreement – A legal agreement made following the marriage setting out how assets will be divided in the event of divorce.

Pre-Nuptial Agreement – A legal agreement made before marriage setting out how assets will be divided in the event of divorce.

Prohibited Steps Order – A court order preventing a parent from taking certain actions concerning their child, such as moving them abroad.

R

Residence Order – An older term for a court order deciding where a child will live, now part of a Child Arrangements Order.

S

Separated Parents Information Programme (SPIP) – A course to help parents understand the effects of separation on children and improve co-parenting.

Specific Issue Order – A court order resolving a particular dispute about a child’s upbringing, such as schooling or medical treatment.

Spousal Maintenance – Regular financial payments made by one spouse to another after divorce to support their financial needs.

T

Trial Separation – A temporary arrangement where a couple lives apart to decide whether to reconcile or proceed with divorce.

W

Without Notice Order – A court order granted without notifying the other party, usually in urgent cases involving domestic abuse.

This family law glossary aims to help clients understand key family law terms. For legal advice, contact our expert team today.

family law glossary