giving a voice to children

Glossary

The Child Centered Solutions glossary is designed to help children, parents, families and professionals understand commonly used family law terms. To search a term, click on the first letter of the word to find it in our online glossary.

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Abandonment - When a parent leaves a child without supervision, support, parental contact or adequate care for an excessive period of time.
Access - Parenting time (previously known as visitation).
Accrual - Total amount of child support to be paid.
Acknowledgment of Paternity - A written statement, voluntarily made in which the mother and biological father of the child admit the man is the father of the child. A statement properly executed with the center for health statistics has equal legal effect as a court order.
Administrative Process - A process similar to but not the same as a judicial process. For example, child support and paternity are usually established through the administrative process, the Child Support Program.
Adoption - Legal proceeding where a person(s) takes a child or other person as their own - taking on the rights and responsibilities of a parent.
Affidavit - An affidavit is a written statement which is sworn or affirmed by you before an authorized witness.
Alimony - A payment, either of money or property, from one spouse to the other. Also known as 'Spousal Support' in Oregon.
Alternate Care - Care provided for a child when there is no parent present.
Alternative Dispute Resolution - A process designed to resolve a dispute without a traditional courtroom trial. Common types of alternative dispute resolution include mediation, arbitration and settlement conferences.
Annulment - Ending a marriage legally by declaring it void, as though it never took place.
Arrears - Money owed as a result of obligor's failure to make payments in accordance with child and spousal support guidelines.
Attorney - A person qualified to represent clients in court proceedings.