| DIVORCE or DISSOLUTION |
A legal judgment ending a marriage. |
| COUNSELOR |
An adult who listens and helps people to understand their problems. |
| HALF BROTHER or HALF SISTER |
A boy or girl born to your parent and your stepparent. |
| JUDGE |
An adult with the power to hear disputes in a court of justice and to decide how problems should be resolved. |
| LAWYER |
An adult trained to help parents proceed with getting a divorce. |
| SEPARATION AGREEMENT |
A written agreement between both parents that describes the terms by which they agree to end their marriage and the rules they will observe after their divorce. |
| CHILD CUSTODY |
A plan that describes who children will live with and who will take care of them. |
| CHILD SUPPORT |
How much money each parent will pay to help take care of the children. |
| VISITING RIGHTS |
Certain times set aside for children and their parents they do not live with to be together. |
| ALIMONY or SPOUSAL SUPPORT |
Money one parent pays to the other to provide support after they have separated. |
| STEPPARENT |
Someone who marries your mother or father. |
| STEPSISTER or STEPBROTHER |
A girl or boy born to your stepparent and the partner your stepparent once was married to. |
| JOINT CUSTODY |
When parents continue to care for and be responsible for their children. |
| MEDIATION |
When parents meet with a third person who helps them discuss and make agreements (settle arguments) about their children. |
| PARENTING PLAN |
A written agreement reached between parents that tells how they will care for and be responsible for their children. |
