Family Law
Going through a divorce or family law case in Illinois? Legal documents are full of unfamiliar terms — and the stakes are high. This glossary explains the family law words you're most likely to see, in plain English. This page covers divorce procedure, money, children, and the court process.
- Alimony (Maintenance)
- Allocation of Parental Responsibilities
- Best Interests of the Child
- Child Custody
- Child Representative
- Child Support
- Child-Related Expenses
- Collaborative Divorce
- College Expenses
- Contempt of Court
- Contested Divorce
- Discovery
- Dissolution of Marriage
- Divorce Decree
- Emancipation
- Financial Disclosure
- Guardian Ad Litem (GAL)
- Judgment
- Legal Fees & Attorney’s Fees
- Mediation
- Minor Child / Non-Minor Child
- Modification
- Order (Court Order)
- Order of Protection / Temporary Restraining Order
- Parenting Coordinator
- Parenting Plan
- Parenting Time (Visitation)
- Petition (Petition for Dissolution of Marriage)
- Petition for Rule to Show Cause
- Petitioner & Respondent
- Post Decree
- Postnuptial Agreement (“Postnup”)
- Prenuptial Agreement (“Prenup”)
- Primary Parent
- Pro Se
- Relocation of a Child
- Uncontested Divorce