| A | B |
|---|
| marriage counseling | Guidance given to couples that are having problems in their marriage by an unbiased, specially trained person to help resolve some of the problems |
| community property system | Property division system by which property acquired by either spouse as a result of that spouse’s efforts during the marriage is automatically owned by both spouses equally |
| equitable distribution system | Method of determining property division in a divorce that is used in most states, requiring the court to divide marital property fairly |
| rehabilitative alimony | Alimony that is paid for a short period to give a spouse a chance to enter (or perhaps reenter) the work force and become self-supporting |
| cohabitation agreement | Contract between unmarried couples regarding their financial affairs |
| joint physical custody | Situation that occurs after divorce in which the children live with each parent about half the time |
| child support | Money for the care of the minor children, paid by the noncustodial parent to the custodial parent |
| grounds | The legal basis for an annulment or a divorce |
| joint legal custody | Situation that occurs after a divorce in which both parents have equal rights and responsibilities toward their children |
| separation agreement | A written agreement, drawn up by a married couple or their lawyers when the couple decide to stop living together, that spells out alimony and child support payments |
| no-fault divorce | A divorce in which neither party has to prove wrongdoing |
| palimony | Money paid by on member of an unmarried couple to the other when they split up |
| annulment | A declaration by the court that a marriage never existed |
| judicial separation | A court-ordered or court-approved decree listing the rights and responsibilities of a married couple who have separated |
| alimony | Money paid by one spouse to support the other spouse when the marriage ends |
