Fill and Sign the PDF Contemporary Families as Contexts for Development Form

- 1 - D ivor ce I nfor m a t ion a n d W or k sh e e t I n st r u ct ion s: Th is w or k she e t is de sign e d t o be u se d by pe r son s con t e m pla t in g a divor ce . I t m a y a lso be u se d by your a t t or n e y. Com ple t in g t h is for m be for e you r in it ia l in t e r vie w w it h you r a t t or n e y m a y sa ve you va lua ble t im e a nd m on e y. Part 1 - Definit ions – Term s and Explanat ions D e fin it ion s – Te r m s a n d Ex pla na t ion s 1. Com plaint The pleading used t o com m ence a divorce act ion t hat is filed wit h t he court clerk, usually in t he count y of residence of t he part ies. 2. Pet it ion Sam e as com plaint . Som e St at es use t he t erm Pet it ion inst ead of com plaint . 3. Plaint iff Or Pet it ioner The person who files t he com plaint . May be called Pet it ioner if a Pet it ion is used inst ead of a com plaint . I f a Joint Com plaint is allowed, t he part ies m ay be called Co- Plaint iffs or Co- Com plainant s. 4. Defendant Or respondent The person who t he com plaint is filed against . This person is usually required t o answer t he com plaint wit hin a cert ain num ber of days, or file a waiver t o t he com plaint . Aft er t he com plaint is filed, t he defendant is usually served wit h a copy of t he com plaint and a sum m ons direct ing t he defendant t o answer t he com plaint . 5. Co- Plaint iffs When bot h part ies sign t he com plaint in a divorce act ion it is called a Joint Com plaint or Joint Pet it ion. Som e st at es allow Joint com plaint s and som e do not . 6. Sum m ons This is a docum ent signed by t he Court Clerk and served on t he defendant . I t inform s t he defendant t hat a com plaint has been filed and direct s t he defendant t o file an answer wit hin t he required t im e. 7. Cover Sheet Som e st at es require a cover sheet t o be filed wit h t he com plaint , pet it ion or j oint com plaint which provides basic inform at ion about t he part ies and t he act ion. These are used by t he court for easy reference and also som et im es for st at ist ic report ing. Som e clerks will supply you wit h t he required cover sheet and ot hers will direct you t o where a copy can be obt ained. 8. I nform at ion Sheet Sam e as Cove