Author: Family Lawyer

  • Uxorilocal Residence

    The residence pattern in which a man moves into his wife’s home. If it is with her mother instead, the residence pattern is called matrilocal….

  • Widowed

    A person whose spouse in a registered marriage has died and who has not remarried….

  • Virilocal Residence

    The residence pattern in which a woman moves into her husband’s home. If it is with his father instead, the residence pattern is called patrilocal….

  • Transvestite

    A person who wears the clothes and bodily adornment normally associated with the other gender. Transvestitism, or cross dressing, is not necessarily connected with homosexuality….

  • Two-Spirited

    A term used to refer to North American Indian homosexual men of the Great Plains and elsewhere in the West. In the past, two-spirited men led their lives as transvestites and were given respected social statuses within their societies. Formerly, they were known by the somewhat derogatory French […]

  • Undefended Divorce

    The dissolution of the marriage either by agreement or where there is not defence to the Petition….

  • Statement Of Arrangements For Children

    Form to be filed with the divorce petition if there are any children. It sets out the proposed arrangements for the children. If possible, the terms should be agreed by the parents and the form signed by them both….

  • Sororate

    A rule specifying that a widower should marry the sister of his deceased wife. This is usually favored by their respective parents because it continues the bond between their families. Where polygyny exists, an anticipatory sororate is often practiced. That is to say, there is a […]

  • Step Family

    A couple family containing one or more children, at least one of whom is the stepchild of either member of the couple and none of whom is the natural or foster child of both members of the couple. (see also Blended family, Intact family)…

  • Separated

    A person who is a partner in a registered marriage, but has parted from his or her spouse, and has not yet divorced….

  • Small-Scale Society

    Generally a society of a few dozen to several thousand people who live by foraging wild foods, herding domesticated animals, or non-intensive horticulture on the village level. Such societies lack cities as well as complex economies and governments. Kinship relationships are usually highly […]

  • Same-Sex Couple

    Two persons of the same sex who form a couple relationship and are usually resident in the same household….

  • Severing The Joint Tenancy

    This is where a property has been held as joint tenants but due to a change in circumstances, for example separation, one or both of the parties now wish to hold the property as tenants in common….

  • Registered Married

    A legally registered married person not separated from his/her spouse, even if the spouse is not a usual resident of the same household….

  • Relevant Child

    A child of the marriage under 16 at the time of the decree nisi or between 16 and 18 if in full-time education or training for a trade, profession or vocation. (A disabled and dependant child can be of any age)….