Family Law Glossary

​​ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) – Mediation or arbitration used to resolve disputes outside of court.
Allocation of Parental Responsibilities (APR) – Legal term in Colorado for what is commonly called child custody. It includes decision-making and parenting time.
Annulment (Invalidity of Marriage) – A legal declaration that a marriage was never valid.
Appeal – A legal request to review a Judge's court decision.
Arrears – Past-due child support and/or spousal maintenance payments.
Case Management Order (CMO) – A document issued by the court that outlines deadlines, disclosures, and procedural steps in a family law case.
Child and Family Investigator (CFI) – A neutral professional appointed by the court to investigate and make recommendations about parenting time and decision-making in the best interests of the child.
Child Legal Representative (CLR) – An attorney appointed to represent the best interests of a child.
Child Support – Financial payments made by one parent to the other for the support and care of a child as required by C.R.S. 14-10-115.
Common Law Marriage – A legally recognized marriage without a formal ceremony or license.
Decree of Dissolution – The final order from the court that legally ends a marriage.
Decision-Making Responsibility – The authority to make major decisions about a child’s education, healthcare, religion, and general welfare.
Dependency and Neglect (D&N) – Cases involving allegations that a child is being abused or neglected by the State of Colorado.
Discovery – The process by which each party gathers information from the other, often including financial disclosures, interrogatories, and depositions.​
Ex Parte – Communication or legal action that takes place without the presence or knowledge of the other party.
Financial Affidavit/Sworn Financial Statement (SFS) – A mandatory, sworn disclosure of a party’s income, expenses, assets, and debts. This statement is required in divorce and family law cases to provide a full picture of each party’s financial circumstances.
Hearing – A formal proceeding before a judge or magistrate where parties present evidence, arguments, and testimony.
Income Withholding Order (IWO) – A court order directing an employer to withhold child or spousal support from a person’s paycheck.
Initial Status Conference (ISC) – A meeting early in the legal process where the court will discuss scheduling and case management with the parties.
IRM - In regard to marriage - this is often used in subject titles to assist with referencing a specific matter.
Legal Separation – A court-approved permanent separation where arrangements for property, support, and children are formally Ordered by the court, similar to that in a divorce case.
Maintenance (Spousal Maintenance) – Financial support paid by one spouse to another during or after divorce, also referred to as alimony.
Magistrate – A judicial officer who is appointed/hired by the court, they are different from a Judge but both can issue Orders in your case.
Mediation – A confidential process where a neutral third party helps parties reach agreements without court intervention.
Modification – A legal change to an existing court order, often related to parenting time, decision making, child support, or maintenance.
Motion – A written request asking the court to issue an order or ruling.
Notice of Hearing – A formal notice to parties that a hearing is scheduled.
Order – A directive issued by a judge or magistrate that must be followed.
Parenting Plan – A written agreement or court order that outlines parenting time, exchanges, and decision-making responsibilities.
Parenting Time – The schedule for when a child spends time with each parent, often referred to as custody. 
Permanent Orders - These are the final orders in any initial action. 
Petitioner – The person who initiates a family law case (there is no legal benefit to being the party to initiate a matter).
Post-Decree – Refers to issues or modifications that arise after the final court order or divorce decree is entered.
Protection Order (Restraining Order) – A court order that prohibits contact or proximity between individuals, often used in domestic violence cases.
QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order) – A court order used to divide retirement benefits, often required by retirement plan administrators.
Respondent – The person who responds to the initial petition in a case.
Restricting Parenting Time – A legal process used when a parent’s time with a child poses an imminent risk to the child’s safety or well-being.
Service of Process – The formal delivery of legal documents to a party.
Settlement Agreement (Separation Agreement) – A written contract that outlines the terms of property division, support, and other issues in a divorce.
Status Conference – A court appearance to check progress and set deadlines in a case.
Stipulation – A written agreement between the parties that is submitted to the court.
Subpoena – A legal document requiring someone to appear in court or produce documents.
Temporary Orders – Short-term court orders that remain in effect until the permanent orders hearing or settlement.
Trial – A formal court proceeding where evidence is presented and a judge or magistrate makes a final decision. (Referred to as Permanent orders)
Verified – A document or motion that is sworn to be true under penalty of perjury.