Person entitled to inherit property of the decedent
Heir
being married to only one spouse at a time
monogamy
A person who does not have the legal rights of an adult
Minor
voluntary sexual intercourse by a married person with someone other than their spouse
adultery
A direction by a court that must be obeyed
order
Land and all the things that are attached to it. Anything that is not ______ is personal property. A house is _______, but a dining room set is not.
Real property
the ability to understand the nature and effect of one's acts, such as marriage
capacity
The age when a person acquires all the rights and responsibilities of being an adult. In most states it is 18.
Age of majority
the parent with whom the child lives and who has primary responsibility for a child
Parent with Care
Assets that can't be touched, such as an ownership interest in a corporation. Documents—stock certificates, for example, are evidence of who owns _________.
intangible property
A document that states a person’s wishes regarding life-support or other medical treatment in certain circumstances, sometimes when death is imminent.
Living will
An alternative to the court process: conducted by a third party to help parties reach agreement on issues between them
mediation
in relation to gifts made by a will. Means that a gift is subject to some condition being met before the item can be given.
Contingent
The document that initiates the divorce
petition
Refers to the up front payment a client gives a lawyer to accept a case
retainer
Refers to probate laws that allow a spouse to take a certain portion of an estate when the other spouse dies, regardless of what was written in the spouse’s will.
Elective share
A court order that prevents an individual from certain behaviour or directs certain behaviour
Injunction
To leave property at one's death; another word for "give."
Bequeath
An individual named in a divorce petition with whom the adulterous party has had sexual intercourse
co-respondent
an agreement (often financial) between parties which has been made legally binding and enforceable by a court
consent order
Latin origin meaning inheritance
Hereditament
The US and UK words for: regular payments by one party of a marriage to another
alimony / maintenance
Any claim or restriction on a property’s title
Encumbrance
A court order that prohibits particular action in relation to a child (e.g. removing from the country, changing surname etc.).
Prohibited Steps Order
inability to consummate the marriage and a ground for annulment
impotence