Divorce Dictionary

Report written by magistrates to provide a rationale for a decision to order a child to be taken into care.

Order that CAFCASS or social services “advise, assist and befriend” a family.

CAFCASS officer who interviews the parties and children before advising the Court on the appropriate decision.

An abbreviation for Financial Dispute Resolution which is the second and main court hearing held in Financial Remedy cases at which a judge considers evidence from both parties before giving an indication of what a fair settlement would be.

Deliver a document by post or otherwise to the court office.

Hearing at which the judge makes his final decision.

Order that one party pay the other a periodical payment or lump sum or transfer property to them.

Specialist unit within the Family Court dedicated to the efficient handling of cases of financial complexity.

Financial settlement to a spouse on divorce.

Form on which parties to a divorce must disclose their financial details.

Hearing convened to determine whether or not some alleged violence or abuse did indeed take place.

In financial proceedings the first meeting with the judge.

In children proceedings the first meeting with the judge.

A form produced by the court service that is commonly used to facilitate the documentation and exchange of financial information between the two parties in a divorce financial settlement case. It is a mandatory document for cases being dealt with in court and is also used by some solicitors and mediators as a standardised template for voluntary financial disclosure.

Fast-track procedure enabling a local authority to make a placement of a child with an approved prospective adopter.