Glossary - Family Law
In Criminal Law, Family Law, Wills and Powers of Attorney
When a document is “commissioned”, it is signed in front of a commissioner of oaths. A commissioner of oaths has the power to certify a document that presents what someone says is true, such as an affidavit.
In Family Law
A common-law relationship is one where partners of the same or opposite sex live together in a marriage-like relationship, without being married. This is sometimes called “cohabiting”. In family law, you don’t have to live together for a certain amount of time to be in a common-law relationship. But the law gives different rights to common-law partners depending on how long they’ve lived together or whether they have a child together.
In Family Law
A consent order is a type of court order that is based what the parties in a court case agree to.
In Family Law
A contact order is a court order that allows a child to have contact with a person who is not a parent and who does not stand in the place of a parent, such as a step-parent. For example, contact can include visits or telephone or webcam calls with a grandparent or an aunt or uncle.
In Family Law
Cost consequences are when one party has to pay some or all of the legal costs of the other party. Legal costs usually include lawyer’s fees. It might also include other costs paid, such as the fee paid to have a pension valued.
The court decides when to make a court order for cost consequences. For example, it might order you to pay some of your partner’s costs if it made the court order that your partner asked for.
In Family Law, Tribunals and Courts
The court clerk is a person at the courthouse responsible for things like issuing documents, maintaining court files, and setting court dates.
In Family Law
A court order is a decision made by a judge that requires a party to do something or not do something. A court order can be a temporary order or a final order.
In Abuse and Family Violence, Criminal Law, Family Law
Cross-examination is when one party, or their lawyer if they have one, questions the other party’s witnesses. The purpose of cross-examination is to test how true and reliable a witness’ answers are.
In Abuse and Family Violence, Family Law
The Crown Attorney, sometimes called the prosecutor, is a government lawyer who presents the case against the person accused of a crime in criminal court. They work for the government and are not the victim’s lawyer.
In Child abuse and neglect, Family Law
A Crown ward is a child under the age of 18 years who has been taken away from their parents’ care by the court and is in the care of a children’s aid society (CAS). The CAS makes all of the decisions for the child that their parents would normally make.
