Dictionary of Family Court Words - A

A

Abuse Any behaviour which causes harm

Accessible Easy to get to or to understand - either a place (e.g. a building such as a doctor's surgery) or a service (e.g. information)

Adjournment A hearing put off to another day

Adoption Where a child lives with new parent(s) and family forever

Adoption Order The Court saying the child will go to live with a new family forever

Adult Someone over 18 years old

Advocate Someone who will speak for you

Alcohol Abuse Drinking so much alcohol again and again so that it has a bad effect on a person's behaviour or health

Allocation Hearing Meeting at Court to decide which court is going to deal with the case and what is going to happen

Ancillary Relief Dealing with money and property in divorce

Appeal Ask another Court to look at it again –and to change the decision

Applicant Person asking the court to make an order

Appropriate What someone thinks is right The right thing to do or say at the time

Arranged Marriage When your parents choose your husband or wife, who you should marry

ASBO Anti-Social Behaviour Order - an order from a Court ordering that someone must not do something (e.g. making a noise in the street at night or going into a particular area)

Assault Hitting, kicking, head butting, punching, slapping or doing anything else to someone that will hurt them with or without a weapon (e.g. a stick, a bottle or a knife)

Assessment A way of finding out what you are good at and what you need help with

Attachment How parents and children get on together, what their relationship is like

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.