Children's Glossary

Child's representative - A child's representative is a person appointed by the Court to represent the interests of the child in Court.

Custody - An order granted by the court establishing either the mother or the father as the primary (custodial) parent. Custody includes legal (decision making) and physical (where the child primarily resides) decisions.

Filing - Filing means submitting an application or other document to the Court and having it stamped with the Court seal. This can be done in person or by mail.

Hearing - A short trial to decide temporary issues before the final trial takes place. Each party has the opportunity to present evidence in the form of testimony from the witnesses or written exhibits.

Motion - A request of the court to do something.

Parenting Plan - A document that is filed after parties have reached an agreement after ordered by the court that sets the schedule for each parent's time with the children. A parenting plan may also include guidelines as to how parenting time is to be conducted and rights and responsibilities of the parents in relation to the children.

Parenting Time Schedule (new name for visitation) - An approved schedule for the children to spend time with both parents. This schedule typically includes weekly, holiday, vacations, birthdays, and other important dates and states how the times will be shared. See 'Parenting Plan' above.

Party - When an application is filed with a Court, all people named as either applicants or respondents become parties to the application.

Trial - The process by which the parties present evidence and witness testimony before a judge for the purpose of having the court making a determination.