GLOSSARY OF TERMS

ADR Alternate Dispute Resolution
Alternate Payee Any spouse, former spouse, child, or other dependent of a participant who is recognized by a domestic relations order as having a right to receive all, or a portion of, the benefits payable under a plan with respect to such participant.

Caucus
A process used by mediators to discuss a disputed issue individually with each party to the mediation.

Child Specialist
A mental health professional who is an advocate for the child/children in the divorce process, who provides guidance for the parents to help their child/children through the divorce, and who assists in the development of an effective co-parenting plan.

Collaborative Attorney
An attorney that is committed to avoiding litigation, that will represent you in non-confrontational conversation with the other side.

Collaborative Law
A new approach to resolving disputes with respect, compassion, and understanding.

Community Property
Any asset or obligation accumulated during the marriage, and prior to the date of separation.

Co-Parenting
Raising children together from two different households.

Declarations of Disclosure
This consists of a Schedule of Assets and Debts and Income and Expense Declaration. The court requires that these declarations be exchanged between the divorcing parties.

Divorce Coach
A mental health professional who works collaboratively with the couple, their lawyers, and other professionals involved, to enhance communication, to reduce misunderstandings, and to effectively use conflict resolution skills throughout the divorce process.

FICO
Referring to one's credit score.

Fiduciary
Somebody who is entrusted with the management of property or with the power to act on behalf of and for the benefit of another.

LDA
Legal Document Assistant. Formerly known as Independent Paralegal. A person that assists in document preparation without attorney supervision directly for the public.

Marital Settlement Agreement
The document which specified division of the assets and obligations of the parties, and becomes a court order when filed.

Mediation
A process of negation between Husband and Wife with a trained third party "mediator" to resolve issue in dispute.

Memorandum of Understanding
A document prepared at the completion of the mediation process. It the "understanding" of your agreement by the mediator(s).

Parenting Plan
An agreement between the parties designating when children spend time, including holidays with each parent.

Separate Property
Any asset or obligation accumulated prior to marriage, and after the date of separation.

QDRO
A Qualified Domestic Relations Order is a court order that recognizes the right of an alternate payee to receive all or a portion of the pension benefits payable with respect to a plan participant in accordance to Section 414(p) of the Internal Revenue Code.

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Disclaimer: The members of ADP are all independent businesses. We are not in business with each other, unless specifically noted as such. We are each responsible only for the services we individually provide, and we do not profit, supervise, or take responsibility for services provided by any other member. Members do not act as agents, employees, or independent contractors for any other members. The content of this website is not to be construed as legal advice. ADP will help you obtain a better or good, uncontested, mediated, collaborative, no court divorce using a legal document assistant [LDA], or mediation with a mediator, or a collaborative divorce using collaborative law with a collaborative attorney or lawyer, resulting in a marital settlement agreement [MSA], memorandum of understanding [MOU], and filing all the necessary legal forms, such as asset and liability and income and expenses financial disclosure forms, as well as a qualified domestic relations order aka QDRO. Your divorce will include all separate, community & quasi community property, debts, financial disclosure forms, retirement plans, 401k plans, pension plans, as well as spousal support, alimony and child support. There will be a custody agreement that might be sole, joint and primary and include move-away issues, as well as a parenting and/or co-parenting plan, and could include pet custody, time-share or visitation schedule. This process is good for co-habitation agreements, as well as civil union, gay & lesbian partners and/or relationships, domestic partnerships. Copyright © 2012 by the Alliance of Divorce Professionals (ADP). Website maintained by Evalesco Web Design.