Glossary of Terms

Legal terminology can be very confusing. We have provided this glossary to explain
the terms and expressions you will come across during the divorce procedure:

Acknowledgment of Service - a form which has to be filled in and returned to confirm receipt of the Divorce Petition.

Affidavit - also known as a Sworn Statement- a declaration in writing sworn before a solicitor or someone similarly qualified to witness oaths.

Consent Order- an order confirming agreement between the parties.

Contested Divorce - a divorce which is disputed by one or both of the parties.

Decree Absolute - the final order in divorce proceedings which leaves the parties free to remarry.

Decree Nisi - the first of two decrees of divorce which shows that grounds are proven and that due process of the law has taken place. It will later become absolute unless cause is shown why it should not.

Divorce - the legal dissolution of a marriage.

Divorce Petiton - a formal request made in writing to a Court asking for a marriage to be dissolved.

Financial Consent Order - an order confirming agreement between the parties regarding arrangement of their finances after the divorce.

Petitioner - the spouse who has filed for divorce.

Request for Directions - a document sent to the Court at the appropriate time asking that Decree Nisi be granted.

Respondent - the spouse who receives and responds to the petition from the other party.

Statement of Arrangements - the form setting out the petitioner's suggestions as to what arrangements should be made for the children after the divorce.

Statement of Information - the form setting out a short summary of the financial details of the parties.

Sworn Statement - a statement of facts, whose truth has been confirmed, on oath, by the person making it; also known as an Affidavit.