Glossary

Affidavit: A written statement sworn before a notary.
Answer: The respondent's filed response. It protects the right to notice and to be heard.
Austin form (VS-165): A state vital statistics form filed with a divorce or SAPCR final order.
Cause number: The case number the clerk assigns.
Certificate of conference: A statement in a motion describing efforts to resolve it with the other side (required by most local rules).
Citation: The official notice of suit served with the petition.
Community property: Property acquired during marriage, other than separate property. It is presumed at divorce.
Conservator: A person given parental rights and duties by court order (managing or possessory).
Contempt: A court finding that someone disobeyed an order. It can mean jail or a fine.
Default: Finishing the case when a served respondent does not answer.
Discovery: The formal exchange of information and documents.
Ex parte: A request to the court without the other side present.
Geographic restriction: A limit on where the child's primary residence may be.
Hearsay: An out-of-court statement offered for its truth (TRE 801).
Income withholding: An order directing the employer to deduct support.
Joint managing conservators: Parents who share decision-making rights.
Mediated settlement agreement (MSA): A binding signed agreement reached in mediation.
Movant / Respondent: The person filing a motion / the person responding.
Net resources: Income used to compute child support (Fam. Code 154.062).
Petitioner: The person who files the case.
Possession and access: Visitation time.
Pro se: Representing yourself.
Prove-up: Short testimony to finalize an uncontested case.
QDRO: Qualified Domestic Relations Order, used to divide retirement plans.
SAPCR: Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship.
Separate property: Owned before marriage, or received by gift or inheritance.
Standing order: An automatic order that applies to every case of a type in a county (often covering children, property, and conduct).
Subpoena: An order requiring a witness to appear or produce documents.
Temporary orders: Orders that apply while the case is pending.
TRO: Temporary restraining order, a short-term order to preserve the status quo.
Waiver of service: A notarized form by which the respondent gives up formal service.