Legal Dictionary

Category: Family Law Dictionary

  • Guardian Ad Litem

    A guardian appointed for the purposes of a suit. The appointment of such is incident to the power of every court to try a ease (2 Cow. [N. Y.] 430), and the power is then confined to the particular case at bar (Co. Litt. 89, note 16). His duty is to manage the interest of…

  • Progress Report

    Adoption Legal Definition of Progress Report Meaning of Progress Report See Report.Learn more with the Adoption Thesaurus Related Entries of Progress Report in the Encyclopedia of Law Project Browse or […]

  • Infanticide

    Legal Definition and Related Resources of Infanticide Meaning of Infanticide The murder of an infant soon after its birth. The charge of infanticide can only be laid against the mother as anyone else charged with the killing would be charged with […]

  • Immunity

    Adoption Legal Definition of Immunity Meaning of Immunity Established in all child abuse laws to protect reporters from civil lawsuits and criminal prosecution resulting from filing a report of child abuse and neglect.Learn more with the […]

  • Abandonment

    Adoption Legal Definition of Abandonment Meaning of Abandonment Desertion of a child by a parent or adult primary caregiver with no provisions for continued childcare nor with any apparent intention to return to resume caregiving.Learn more […]

  • Probation Period

    Adoption Legal Definition of Probation Period Meaning of Probation Period Time between placement of a child with the adoptive family and finalization, when the adoption is legalized in court. It varies by province but is at least six months. This […]

  • Probation Period

    Adoption Legal Definition of Probation Period Meaning of Probation Period Time between placement of a child with the adoptive family and finalization, when the adoption is legalized in court. It varies by province but is at least six months. This […]

  • Black Market

    Financial Definition of Black Market Meaning of Black Market An illegal market. Adoption Legal Definition of Black Market Adoption performed outside the law, often referred to as the illegal buying […]

  • Private Adoption

    (1) An adoption arranged by a privately-funded, licensed adoption agency. See also Private agency. Commentary: Most provinces allow private adoption. All private adoption is regulated by the provincial ministry responsible for adoptions. Ministries license individuals and agencies to place […]

  • Adoption Agency

    Organization placing children in homes, under the jurisdiction of state or licensing laws….

  • Mental Retardation

    Mental Retardation

    Legal Definition and Related Resources of Mental Retardation Meaning of Mental Retardation A state of significant subnormal intellectual development with reduction of social competence in a minor or adult person which has existed prior to […]

  • Mental Retardation

    Mental Retardation

    Legal Definition and Related Resources of Mental Retardation Meaning of Mental Retardation A state of significant subnormal intellectual development with reduction of social competence in a minor or adult person which has existed prior to […]

  • Risk Assessment

    To assess and measure the likelihood that a child will be maltreated in the future, frequently through the use of checklists, matrices, scales and other methods of measurement….

  • Spouse

    Legal Definition and Related Resources of Spouse Meaning of Spouse A husband or wife. Legal Definition of Spouse The person to whom you are married. Synonyms […]

  • Stepparent Adoption

    The adoption of a child by the new spouse of the birthparent….