Glossary
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C
CHILD ABUSE
See Abuse.
CHILD SUPPORT
Child Support is a legal obligation and most states have mandatory wage attachment which kicks in when a child support order is entered. In most jurisdictions, child support continues until the age of emancipation (usually 18) or graduation from high school or entry into the military, whichever first occurs. If child support is in arrears, the federal government may intercept any tax refund, have your driver's license and/or professional license revoked, report your delinquency to a consumer reporting bureau, thus impacting your credit rating, and, of course, seek enforcement and contempt proceedings, including imprisonment, to force a parent to pay. Child Support is enforceable throughout the United States through the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act. Child Support is enforceable internationally through the Hague Convention among its participating nations.
COMMUNITY PROPERTY
There are 10 Community Property states including Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. These states differ from Equitable Distribution States when it comes to dividing property upon divorce. Community Property States state hold both husband and wife equally own all money earned by either of them from the beginning of marriage until the date of separation. Community Property is all property acquired during the marriage with community money. Said property is owned equally (50/50) by the parties, regardless of how the property was purchased and titled. Debts work in the same fashion.
CONCILIATION
Conciliation is a word pertaining to a process to resolve differences. There can be custody conciliation whereby a third party who is appropriately trained and qualified can seek to settle differences between parents regarding custody of children. Very often the word conciliation is used interchangeably with mediation.
CUSTODY
A parent who has primary physical custody, is the parent who is with the children daily and tends to their needs on a regular basis. A parent having partial physical custody, has the children at his or her house on an agreed upon schedule. Custody may also be shared. In most states, custody cannot be granted if the parties are still residing in the same home. Legal Custody pertains to decision-making and access to records.
Also see Visitation
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