P PALIMONY - support paid from one person to another even though they were never married. PARALEGAL - a trained person who assists a lawyer. PARENS PATRIAE - a doctrine whereby the state takes jurisdiction over a minor living within its border. It is the basis for deciding what state will assume jurisdiction in a child custody case. PARENTING CLASSES - organized classes designed to teach parents how to minimize the negative aspects of divorce on their children. PARTY - a plaintiff or a defendant in a legal proceeding. PATERNITY - the legal biological relationship between father and child. PERJURY - the act of lying under oath in court. PERSONAL JURISDICTION - the power of the court to make orders regarding an individual and have them enforced. PERSONAL PROPERTY - property that is not real estate. PETITION - the title given to the first document filed in pursuit of a divorce. PETITIONER - the person who initiates the divorce by filing the petition. PHYSICAL CUSTODY - it is in reference to the parent with whom the child resides. Depending upon arrangements, it may be joint or sole custody. PLAINTIFF - the individual who files the divorce petition, thereby initiating the divorce. PLEADING - a formal written application to the court which requests action by the court. POSTNUPTIAL - a written contract between husband and wife that states all of their present and future rights in view of their impending divorce. PRAECIPE - an order asking the court to act. It is addressed to the clerk of court. PRAYER - the portion at the end of the pleading which states the relief that is requested of the court. PRECEDENT - something that has already happened that will influence how future similar events will be viewed by the court. PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENT - a legal contract signed by two people before they get married. It typically involves limitations on a spouse's rights to property, support, and inheritance upon divorce. PRESENT VALUE - the value of a future payment or series of future payments discounted to the current date or to time period zero. PRIMARY CARETAKER - the parent who provides majority of the child's day to day care. PRIVILEGE - the right a spouse has to make admissions to an attorney or counselor that can not be later used as evidence. PRO SE DIVORCE - a divorce in which each spouse represents themselves in court without an attorney. PROTHONOTHARY - the court clerk in charge of civil filings. PURPOSE OF AN APPRAISAL - the states scope of an appraisal assignment, i.e., to estimate a defined value of any real property interest, or to conduct an evaluation study pertaining to real property decisions. Return to the Dictionary Page

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