Dictionary of Family Court Words - I

I

Ill Treatment When someone hurts someone else on purpose

Incest Having sex with someone you are related to (eg. father, brother, mother, sister)

Independent Living Being able to live on your own and have your own home

Independent Reviewing Officer Someone who checks to make sure that Children's Services are doing what they said they would do for a child

Independent Social Worker A person who does not work for Social Services who the Judge orders to look at what has happened to your child and family to help the Judge decide how your child can be looked after

Indirect Contact Not seeing your child but keeping in touch, for example by writing let ter s or sending cards

Inherent Jurisdiction of the High Court The power to make special decisions

Initial Assessment First part of the assessment - usually quite short

Injunction Where a Judge tells someone they must not do something

Instructions When a solicitor or barris ter is representing a person, what the person says they want them to do

Interim For a short time, temporary

Interim Care Order (ICO) Gives the Social Worker the main say what happens to your child until the Judge decides

Interim Supervision Order Temporary Order that means a social worker can visit a child

Intermediary Person who collects and shares information with everyone involved

IQ Measure of brain power / how clever you are

Issues Resolution Hearing A meeting for the parents, with their solicitor or barrister, the Judge, the child's Social Worker and Guardian. A meeting for the Judge to work out what he / she has to decide for your child's future at the Final Hearing.

PHR Solicitors family and divorce solicitors have a wide range of experience dealing with many different types of family dispute. They have helped hundreds of clients to resolve family - related issues; whether it's divorce and separation issues, child care, civil partnership or complex cohabitation issues.

In addition PHR Solicitors hold a legal aid franchise for family matters. This means that public funding may be available to fund your case.

All of our qualified family and divorce solicitors are members of Resolution (formerly Solicitors Family Law Association).

PHR Solicitors would like to thank Cumbria Local Family Justice Council for allowing the use of the contents of the Family Law Dictionary.