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DEFINITIONS 1. Acknowledgment of Service - a document signed by the defendant to say to the Court that he/she has rec eived a copy of the c omp laint. 2. Consent Agreement - when both parties agree to sign an Order without the Judge holding a hearing. 3. Consent to Try - a document to be signed by both parties in order for the Court to enter a Final Judgment and Decree of Divorce 31 days after the Respondent signs the Acknowledgment of Service or 31 days after the Respondent is served with the Petition. 4. Custodian - a parent or any other person who has physical custody of the child. 5. Enter - how a judges or der become s effective . An order is entered when a judge signs it and it is filed with the county clerk. 6. Final Judgment and Decree of Divorce - the order signed by the Judge which grants the parties' divorce. 7. Firs t Clas s Ma il - a way of delivering Court pa pers to the other party by regular m ail. 8. Guardian ad Litem - a person appointed by the Court who represents the best interests of the child. The guardian cannot be one of the child’s parents, and is usually an attorney 9. Hearing - a Court meeting where both parties explain why the Judge should or should not do something. 10. Lega l Custod y - the right to m ake m ajor dec isions affe cting a ch ild, such as schoo l and hea lth care. 11. Marital Property - things and money acquired during the marriage, except for inheritances and gifts, up until the Final Judgment and Decree of Divorce is entered. 12. Moral Turpitude - an act or behavior that gravely violates the accepted moral standards of the comm unity, such as fraud, rape, and murder. 13. Motion - a request made by either party for the Court to take action in a pending case. 14. Non-Custodial Parent - the parent who does not have physical custody of a child (although he or she might have visitation rights). 15. Order - a decision signed by a Judge requiring certain actions. 16. Party - pe rson invo lved in a case. Ma y include so meo ne other than a sp ouse if the Court grants that person's request to be part of a case. 17. Pending Case - a Court case where no final judgment order has been entered. 18. Petition for Divorce - a written complaint filed with the Court to start the divorce proceeding. 19. Petitioner - the person who starts a case. 20. Physical Custody - the right to have physical control over a child; that is where the child will live. 21. Pro Se - whe n a pe rson files a cour t action without being repre sented by an attorne y. 22. Respondent - the person against whom a case is originally filed. 23. Rule Nisi - a hearing held by the Court to determine any issue on a temporary basis. 24. Proposed Order - an order which has not yet been signed by the Judge. 25. Separation - when the spouses no longer share the same living quarters or bedroom. 26. Separation Agreement - the agreement the parties enter which decides all issues before a divorce is granted, including, but not limited to, custody, child support, alimony, debts, and property division. 27. Service - how a party receives legal papers. 28. Summons - the cover sheet placed on a Complaint which notifies the Defendant to file an answer within 30 days of receiving a complaint. The summ ons also lets the Defendant know if the Plaintiff is re pres ented by an attorn ey. 29. T rue C opy - a copy o f a Co urt pa per im printe d with the seal of the C ourt to show that the cop y is real. 30. Verification - the document signed by the plaintiff swearing that all facts in the complaint are true and co rrect. Please note that all papers in a divorce, including the verification, the acknowledgment of service, the consent to try, and the separation agreement must be signed in front of a notary public. (It may be best, if children are involved, or if there is a dispute regarding a division of property or debts, to consult with an attorney.)