Legal Terms Glossary
This glossary provides explanations of over 100 common legal terms in straightforward language. All terms are listed alphabetically for your easy reference.
A
Abstract of Judgement
Summary of the court's final decision. It can be used as a lien if you file it with the county recorder.
Accrual
The total amount of child support payments that you owe or that are late.
Add-on expenses
These are specified child-related expenses the court orders a parent or both parents to pay in addition to any child support also ordered.
Alimony (Spousal/Domestic Partner Support)
Support of the spouse of the obligor. Spousal Support is a recurring payment from one spouse to another spouse. The Family Code provides for temporary spousal support (i.e., spousal support ordered before a final judgment is entered), and for permanent spousal support (i.e., spousal support ordered as part of a final judgment).
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Mediation, arbitration, conciliation, or other nonjudicial procedures that involve a neutral third party in the decision-making process to resolve a dispute.
Appeal
The process where a party that loses all or part of a case asks a higher court (called an "appellate court") to review the decision and determine if the lower court’s decision was correct. The person that appeals is called the "appellant." The other person is called the "appellee."
Appearance
An individual or entity formally participating in a legal proceeding as a party to a case.
Arbitration
When a person who isn’t involved in the case looks at the evidence, hears the arguments, and makes a decision.
Arrears/Arrearages
Child support that is overdue or unpaid. A parent that has arrearages is "in arrears."
B
Beneficiary
In California, a beneficiary generally refers to the person or legal entity entitled to receive benefits from a will, trust, retirement account, life insurance policy, or other contract. In the context of trusts and estates, California Probate Code provides detailed guidance on the rights and obligations of beneficiaries, particularly focusing on their right to information and proper management of the assets that benefit them.
Best Interests of the Child
This legal standard is used in California family law to determine a range of decisions affecting a child, including custody, visitation, and parenting plans. According to California Family Code Section 3011, the court considers several factors to determine what will best serve the health, safety, and welfare of the child. These factors include, but are not limited to:
The health, safety, and welfare of the child.
Any history of abuse by one parent or any other person seeking custody against any related child, a parent of the child, or a person with whom the parent or child has resided.
The nature and amount of contact with both parents.
The habitual or continual illegal use of controlled substances or habitual or continual abuse of alcohol by either parent.
Any other factors considered relevant by the court.
Bifurcation
To separate the legal issues in a case. More specifically, under California law, bifurcation refers to the process of dividing a trial or legal proceeding into two separate parts for separate consideration and resolution. This practice can be applied to various aspects of a case, most commonly in family law and civil cases. For instance, in divorce proceedings, a court might bifurcate the case to handle the termination of marital status independently and ahead of other issues such as property division, spousal support, or child custody. This allows the parties to become legally divorced while other matters are still being negotiated or litigated.
C
Case Management Order
An order made by the judge at the end of the Case Management Conference, which may be a settlement order or order for the better management of a case through such actions as the consolidation of cases.
Case Number
An identification number that the court clerk’s office gives to a case. This number is on all papers filed in the case. Also called "case ID." Some counties have schematics that define what the different parts of a case number mean, such as the Los Angeles Superior Court system's Case Number Schematic.
Certificate of Service (Proof of Service)
A written statement filed with the court and completed by a process or other personal server, which states that a copy of a document was served on its intended recipient.
Certified Copy
An official copy of a paper from a case file that is marked as being true, complete, and a real copy of the original paper.
Child Abuse
The term “child abuse or neglect” includes physical injury or death inflicted by other than accidental means upon a child by another person, sexual abuse, neglect, the willful harming or injuring of a child or the endangering of the person or health of a child, and unlawful corporal punishment or injury. “Child abuse or neglect” does not include a mutual affray between minors. “Child abuse or neglect” does not include an injury caused by reasonable and necessary force used by a peace officer acting within the course and scope of his or her employment as a peace officer.
Child and Family Investigator (CFI)
The child custody investigator is a member of the court staff with specialized education and training in the effects that divorce/separation has on families, child development, domestic violence and child abuse.
Child Support
Guideline Child Support: Statewide Guideline Child Support Formula: Family Code section 4050/ 4055
Section 4050 outlines that California must comply with federal regulations for uniform support obligations, and section 4055 provides the specific formula the state uses to calculate guideline support.
Non-Guideline Child Support: Departures from Guideline CS Formula: Family Code section 4052
This section addresses that the court may issue support orders that depart from the guideline amount only in the special circumstances set forth in Article 2 of the Family Code
Child Support Enforcement (CSE) Agency (IV-D Agency)
An agency that exists in every state to find parents that don’t have custody (called "noncustodial parents," or "NCPs") or to find the person assumed to be the parent of a child (called a "putative parent"). A CSE Agency makes, enforces, and changes child support, as well as collects and gives out child support money.
Conform Copies
To get or file copies of an original document.
Continuance
Putting off or rescheduling a court case to a later date.
Court Order
A legal decision made by a court (judge, judicial officer, commissioner, etc.) that commands or directs that something be done or not done.
Court Reporter
Someone that writes down, word for word, what is said in court. They generally use a stenographic machine, shorthand, or a recording device. You can ask for a copy of this record.
Custody
Joint Custody: Family Code Section 3002
Means joint physical custody and joint legal custody.
Legal Custody
Who makes important, long-term decisions about the child’s upbringing and welfare, such as: Where do they go to school? What sports or activities do they do? Where do they receive healthcare and under whose insurance? What religion do they practice?
Joint Legal Custody: Family Code Section 3003
Means that both parents shall share the right and the responsibility to make the decisions relating to the health, education, and welfare of a child.
Sole Legal Custody: Family Code section 3006
Means that one parent shall have the right and the responsibility to make the decisions relating to the health, education, and welfare of a child.
Sole Decision-Making Responsibility
In some cases, parents can request sole decision-making responsibility over a specific type or set of issues. If the court grants a parent sole decision-making responsibility over an issue such as healthcare, for example, that means that that parent can make decisions regarding their child’s healthcare that he or she believes to be in the child’s best interest without having to first consult with, or get permission from, the other parent.
Physical Custody
Joint Physical Custody: Family Code section 3004
Means that each of the parents shall have significant periods of physical custody. Joint physical custody shall be shared by the parents in such a way so as to assure a child of frequent and continuing contact with both parents.
Sole Physical Custody
Means that a child shall reside with and be under the supervision of one parent, subject to the power of the court to order visitation.
Primary Physical Custody
The children live primarily with one parent (i.e., significantly more that 50% of the custodial time)
Custodial Parent
The parent that has primary care, custody, and control of the child(ren).
D
Date of Separation: Family Code section 70
The date that a complete and final break in the marital relationship has occurred, as evidenced by both of the following:
(1) The spouse has expressed to the other spouse the intent to end the marriage.
(2) The conduct of the spouse is consistent with the intent to end the marriage.
Declaration
A sworn, written statement that is used as evidence in court.
Decree
A court decision. It can be (1) "interlocutory," which means it is not a final decision, or (2) "final," which means all issues of the case are settled.
Default
A dissolution of marriage/domestic partnership and/or a parentage (child custody and visitation) case proceeds by “true default” if more than 30 days have passed since the petitioner (the spouse/partner that started the case) served the petition and summons, the respondent (the other spouse/partner) did not file a response (so he or she “defaulted”), and there is no written agreement.
Default Judgment
A court decision in favor of the Petitioner when the Respondent doesn’t answer or go to court when they’re supposed to.
Dependant
In family law, this usually means a child that is financially supported by another person. In juvenile law, this means a minor that is in the custody of the court because he or she was abused, neglected, or molested or is physically dangerous to the public because of a mental or physical disorder.
Deposition
A deposition is the taking of a statement of a witness or party under oath, either written or orally. The deposing party (the “asking” person) may ask the deponent (the “responding” person) questions to obtain information, to discover what the party knows about a situation or event, and to determine what their testimony would be at trial.
Discovery
The gathering of information (facts, documents, or testimony) before a case goes to trial. Discovery is done in many ways, such as through depositions, interrogatories, or requests for admissions. It can also be done through independent investigation or by talking with the other side’s lawyer.
Dismiss without prejudice: Code of Civil Procedure section 581(g-m)
If you wish to “cancel” your case after a Petition and Proof of Service have been filed, and none of the following exist in your case:
Judgment
Spousal support order
Child support order
Restraining order or temporary restraining order (TRO)
A hearing date
You can file the appropriate paperwork to have the case dismissed without prejudice. “Without Prejudice” means you can file again about the same issue. Divorces/Legal Separations are dismissed without prejudice.
Disposable Income
What’s left of an employee’s income after making legally required deductions, like taxes.
Disqualification: Model Code of Judicial Conduct, Rule 2.11: Disqualification
When a judge decides (usually voluntarily) not to hear a case.
Dissolution of Marriage/Divorce
A divorce (also called “dissolution of marriage” or “dissolution of domestic partnership”) ends your marriage or domestic partnership (or both if you are both married and in a domestic partnership with your spouse).
Docket
A record with the complete history of each case a court hears.
Domestic Violence: Family Code section 6203
This section outlines that the following abusive behaviors constitute domestic violence:
(1) To intentionally or recklessly cause or attempt to cause bodily injury.
(2) Sexual assault.
(3) To place a person in reasonable apprehension of imminent serious bodily injury to that person or to another.
(4) To engage in any behavior that has been or could be enjoined pursuant to Section 6320.
(b) Abuse is not limited to the actual infliction of physical injury or assault.
This section must be read in conjunction with Section 6320.
E
Earnings Assignment Order
A court order delivered ("served") by a levying officer or registered process server that directs a judgment debtor’s employer to withhold the earnings of the judgment debtor for the purpose of wage garnishment.
E-file: Code of Civil Procedure section 1010.6
means the electronic transmission to a court of a document presented for filing in electronic form. For purposes of this section, this definition of electronic filing concerns the activity of filing and does not include the processing and review of the document and its entry into the court’s records, which are necessary for a document to be officially filed.
Endorse
To sign your name on a document to authorize its contents or transfer (as in a check that is endorsed to transfer money).
Endorsed filed copies
Copies of court papers that are stamped in the top right corner to show when they were filed.
Evidence
Any proof legally presented at trial through witnesses, records, and/or exhibits.
Exhibits
A document or an object shown and identified in court as evidence in a case. Normally, the court assigns an identifying letter or number in alphabetical or numerical order before exhibits are offered as evidence.
F
Family Centered Case Resolution Conference: 2021 California Rules of Court, Rule 5.83
A conference scheduled with parties, attorneys, and a judicial officer to develop and implement a family centered case resolution plan under Family Code section 2451.
Family Centered Case Resolution Process: 2021 California Rules of Court, Rule 5.83
The process employed by the court to ensure that family law cases move through the court process from filing to final disposition in a timely, fair, and effective manner.
Family Law Court
A court that hears family matters, like divorce ("dissolution"), legal separation of spouses, annulment of marriage or domestic partnerships, child custody and support, and domestic violence petitions.
Family Law Facilitator
A lawyer with experience in family law who works for the superior court in every California county to help parents and children involved in family law cases with child, spousal, and partner support problems.
Family Support: Family Code section 92
An agreement between the parents, or an order or judgment, that combines child support and spousal support without designating the amount to be paid for child support and the amount to be paid for spousal support.
Fee waiver
A court form obtained by your local trial/superior court clerk through which you can ask permission not to pay the court's filing fees.
File
When a person officially gives a paper to a court clerk and that paper becomes part of the record of a case.
File Stamped
See definition for endorsed-filed copies above.
G
Garnishment
A legal process that allows part of a person's wages and/or assets to be withheld for payment of a debt.
Good Cause
A good reason.
Guardian
A person who has the legal rights and responsibilities to care for a child whose parents are unavailable to care for him or her.
H
Harassment
Family Code:
Family Code section 6203: This section is part of the Domestic Violence Prevention Act and defines abuse, which includes harassing behavior. It specifies that harassment is engaging in a knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific person that seriously alarms, annoys, or harasses the person, and that serves no legitimate purpose.
Penal Code:
Penal Code section 422: Defines criminal threats, which can include some forms of harassment where there is a threat to commit a crime resulting in death or great bodily injury.
Penal Code section 646.9: Specifically addresses stalking, which is a form of harassment involving a pattern of behavior that causes fear or emotional distress and serves no legitimate purpose.
Civil Code:
Code of Civil Procedure section 527.6: Provides a definition for civil harassment in non-family, non-intimate partner relationships. It involves unlawful violence like assault or battery or stalking, credible threats of violence, or a pattern of conduct that causes substantial emotional distress and serves no legitimate purpose.
Hearing
A formal court proceeding with the judge and opposing sides present, but no jury.
I
Income
Any form of periodic payment to a person, regardless of source, including wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, workers' compensation, disability, pension or retirement program payments, and interest.
Income and Expense Declaration (I&E)
A form through which parties to a case disclose their income and expense information.
Income Withholding Order (IWO)
See definition for Earnings Assignment Order above.
Injunction
A court order that says a defendant can't perform, or must perform, a specific act.
Interrogatories
Written questions sent by 1 side in a lawsuit to an opposing side as part of pretrial discovery in civil cases. The side that receives the interrogatories must answer them in writing under oath.
J
Joinder
Generally, a bringing or joining together.
Judge
An official of the judicial branch of government with authority to decide lawsuits brought before courts. The term "judge" may also refer to all judicial officers, including Supreme Court justices.
Judgment
(1) The official decision of a court that resolves the dispute between the parties to a lawsuit;
(2) The official decision or finding of a judge or administrative agency hearing officer about the respective rights and claims of the parties to an action; also known as a "decree" or "order," and may include "findings of fact and conclusions of law";
(3) The final decision of the judge stating which party has won the case and the terms of the decision. Can be "n.o.v.," which means a ruling in favor of 1 party even though there had been a verdict for the other party, or "summary," which means a court's decision before a trial saying that no facts are disputed in the case and that 1 party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
Judgment Set Aside
A legal process wherein a court overturns a previous decision, typically due to new evidence or errors in the legal process.
Judicial Council Forms
The Judicial Council of California has created many forms (called "Judicial Council forms") to standardize the preparation of court documents.
Jurisdiction
(1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case;
(2) the geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases;
(3) the territory, subject matter, or persons over which lawful authority may be exercised by a court.
K
Keeper
An officer that the court appoints to be responsible for money or property legally seized in connection with a pending case
L
Legal Separation
Through a judgment of legal separation, you and your spouse or domestic partner can end your relationship but still remain legally married or partnered, and get court orders on parenting and money issues.
Libel
False and malicious material that is written or published that is defamatory and hurts a person's reputation.
Limited-scope representation
An arrangement with a lawyer to receive help on some parts of a case for a set fee or limited fees. Also called "unbundled legal services" or "unbundling".
Litigants
The parties (sides) involved in a lawsuit.
Local Forms
Courts created locally to standardize the preparation of documents in trial/superior courts.
M
Marital Settlement Agreement
A marital settlement agreement is a written contract between you and your spouse that contains detailed legal wording about how the issues in your case will be handled.
Mediation
A process in which a neutral person (or people) helps people who have a dispute to communicate so they can reach an agreement.
Minor
A person under the age of 18 years.
Minutes
The official (permanent) record of a court proceeding, that tells things like what witnesses appeared, what motions were made, and what findings were reached.
Minute Order
The courtroom clerk's written minutes of court proceedings.
Modification
A change or alteration, like modification of a child custody order (where a new custody and visitation order is issued changing the terms of the original order).
Motion
An oral or written request that a party makes to the court for a ruling or an order on a particular point.
N
Notary Public
A person authorized under civil law to administer oaths, to attest (affirm) and certify that certain documents are authentic, and to take depositions.
Notice
A written announcement or warning.
Notice of Entry of Judgment
A court form telling the parties about the judge's decision in a lawsuit.
Nullity
The legal invalidation of a marriage; annulment.
Nunc Pro Tunc
When a court order is issued on 1 date but is effective retroactively (as of a date that is in the past); from the Latin for "now for then."
O
Objection
A formal protest made by a party over testimony or evidence that the other side tries to introduce.
Obligation
Law or duty that requires parties to follow their agreement.
Obligee
The person, state agency, or institution owed a debt (usually money) like child support (also called "custodial party" if the money is owed to the person with primary custody of a child).
Obligor
The person that must pay child support or perform some other financial obligation.
Order
(1) Decision of a judicial officer;
(2) A directive of the court, on a matter relating to the main proceedings, that decides a preliminary point or directs some steps in the proceedings.
P
Parentage/Paternity
A legal determination of who the parents of a child are. Parentage must be determined before a court can order child support or medical support. Also called paternity or parental relationship.
Parenting Plan
A detailed custody and visitation agreement that says when the child will be with each parent and how decisions are made.
Party
One of the litigants in a court case.
Perjury
A false statement made on purpose while under oath in a court proceeding.
Personal Service
Refers to when court forms are personally served (delivered).
Petition
A formal written request given to the court asking for a specific judicial action.
Petitioner
The first party to initiate the case (file their paperwork) with the court. The Petitioner files the Petition.
Pleading
A court form or written statement filed with the court that describes a party's legal or factual claims about the case and what orders the party wants from the court.
Postnuptial Agreement
A contract entered into by persons who are already married and who wish to set forth such things as possible changes to the character of community and separate property and other rights and obligations.
Prenuptial Agreement/Premarital Agreement: Family Code section 1610
An agreement between prospective spouses made in contemplation of marriage and to be effective upon marriage.
Proceeding
Generally, the process of conducting judicial business before a court or other judicial officer. A "proceeding" refers to any 1 of the separate steps in that process, like, a motion, a hearing.
Process Server
A person that serves court papers on a party to a lawsuit.
Registered Process Server: Code of Civil Procedure section 380.330
“Registered process server” means a person registered as a process server pursuant to Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 22350) of Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code.
Proof of Service
The form filed with the court that proves that court papers were formally served on (delivered to) a party in a court action on a certain date.
Pro Per
A short form of "in propria persona." Refers to persons that present their own cases in court without lawyers; from the Latin for "in one's own proper person."
Pro Se
Refers to persons that present their own cases in court without lawyers; from the Latin for "on one's own behalf."
Property Division
Community Property: Family Code section 760
Except as otherwise provided by statute, all property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in this state is community property.
Separate Property: Family Code section 770
Separate property of a married person includes all of the following:
(1) All property owned by the person before marriage.
(2) All property acquired by the person after marriage by gift, bequest, devise, or descent.
(3) The rents, issues, and profits of the property described in this section.
Public Assistance
Benefits, like money or food stamps, to help people or families in need.
Public Record
A court record available for inspection by the general public.
Q
Qualified Medical Child Support Order (QMCSO)
An order or judgment that provides for medical support for a child of a parent covered by a group health plan or provides for health benefit coverage for the child.
Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO)
An order or judgment issued by a court and approved by a pension plan, that divides a pension plan in order to make a fair division of property or to pay for child or spousal support.
Quash
To make void, to vacate, to annul, to set aside.
Quasi-Community Property: Family Code section 125
“Quasi-community property” means all real or personal property, wherever situated, acquired before or after the operative date of this code in any of the following ways:
(a) By either spouse while domiciled elsewhere which would have been community property if the spouse who acquired the property had been domiciled in this state at the time of its acquisition.
(b) In exchange for real or personal property, wherever situated, which would have been community property if the spouse who acquired the property so exchanged had been domiciled in this state at the time of its acquisition.
R
Record
A written account of the proceedings in a case, including all pleadings, evidence, exhibits, and judgment submitted during the case.
Respondent
The responding party in a dissolution, nullity, adoption, or probate case.
Restraining Order
A court order that tells a person to stop doing something for a certain amount of time, usually until a court hearing is held.
Civil Harassment Restraining Order
A legal measure issued by a court to protect an individual from harassment, threats, or other forms of abuse by another person outside of a domestic relationship.
Domestic Violence Restraining Order
A legal order issued by a court to protect a victim from abuse or threats of abuse by a current or former intimate partner or family member.
S
Service by Publication
When service of process is done by publishing a notice in a newspaper or by posting on a bulletin board of a courthouse or other public facility after a court determines that other means of service are impractical or have been unsuccessful.
Service of Process
The delivery of legal papers to the opposing party. The papers must be delivered by an adult aged 18 or older that is not involved in the case and that swears to the date and method of delivery to the recipient.
Settlement Agreement
A settlement agreement is a written contract between you and your spouse or domestic partner that contains detailed legal wording about how the issues in your case will be handled.
Settlement Conference
A settlement conference is a meeting facilitated by a judge or a neutral third party aimed at resolving disputes between parties in a legal case before trial through negotiation and compromise.
Slander
Defamation of a person's character or reputation through false or malicious oral statements.
Spousal Support
Court-ordered support of a spouse or ex-spouse; also called "maintenance" or "alimony." (See Alimony above).
State Bar Number (SBN)
A number given to and used to identify licensed attorneys after passage of the state bar exam.
Stipulated Judgment
An agreement between the parties to a case that settles a case.
Stipulation
An agreement relating to a pending court proceeding between parties or their attorneys.
Subpoena
An official order to go to court at a stated time. The term subpoena is also used generally to apply to a subpoena duces tecum.
Subpoena Duces Tecum
An official court order to bring documents or records to a stated place at a stated time.
Substituted Service
Service of process on a party by leaving the court papers with someone other than a party to the lawsuit; valid only if certain specified procedures are followed.
Summary Judgment
A court decision made on the basis of statements and evidence presented for the court record without a trial.
Summons
A notice to a defendant or respondent that an action against him or her was filed in the court issuing the summons and that a judgment will be taken against him or her if the defendant or respondent doesn't answer the complaint or petition within a certain time.
Superior Court
The trial court in each county of the State of California. This court hears all adoption, family law, juvenile, criminal, civil, small claims, and probate cases.
Supervised Visitation
Visitation between a parent and a child that happens in the presence of another specified adult.
Support Order
A court order for the support of a child, spouse or domestic partner. A support order can include monetary support; health care; payment of debts; or repayment of court costs and attorney fees, interest, and penalties; and other kinds of support.
Support Person
In a domestic violence case, the person who says s/he is the victim of domestic violence can choose someone, a support person, to provide moral and emotional support.
Surrogate Parent
A person that substitutes for the legal parent to advocate for a child's special educational rights and needs; can be selected by the child's parent or appointed by the local educational agency.
T
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
Time-limited public assistance payments made to poor families, based on title IV-A of the Social Security Act. TANF replaced Aid to Families With Dependent Children (AFDC, also called "welfare") in 1996.
Temporary Restraining Order
A court order, sometimes called a "TRO," that says a person must not do certain things that are likely to cause harm that can't be fixed.
Testify
To give evidence under oath as a witness in a court proceeding.
Testimony
Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials, before grand juries, or during administrative proceedings.
Third-Party Action
Generally, an action taken by anyone that is not a party to an underlying contract, agreement, or other transaction.
Title
The ownership or evidence of ownership of land or other property.
Transcript
A written, word-for-word record of what was said at a trial or some other formal conversation like a hearing or deposition.
Trial
A court process in which the issues of fact and law are heard and decided according to legal procedures so a judicial officer or jury can make a decision in the case. The two primary processes are:
(1) a bench trial—a trial that is heard and decided by a judge, or
(2) a jury trial—a trial that is heard and decided by a jury.
U
Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act (UCCJEA)
A set of laws adopted by the California Legislature at Sections 3400-3465 of the Family Code that generally governs when California courts may enforce custody orders from other states and countries.
Unbundled Legal Services (or unbundling)
An arrangement with a lawyer to receive help on some parts of a case for a set fee or limited fees. Also called "limited-scope representation."
V
Visitation ( Parenting Time)
A plan for how the parents will share time with their children.
Voluntary Declaration of Parentage or Paternity (VDOP)
A form parents sign to establish that they are both a child's legal parents and to be listed on the child's birth certificate. Once filed with the State, it is equal to a court order.
W
Wage Assignment/Wage Garnishment
A legal procedure that requires the employer of a judgment debtor to withhold a portion of the judgment debtor's wages to satisfy a judgment. Also used to order an employer to transfer (or assign) parts of future wage payments to pay a debt, like child support.
Waiver
To give up a legal right voluntarily, intentionally, and with full knowledge of the consequences.
Waiver of Service
When a respondent in a lawsuit agrees to receive legal documents without formal delivery
Ward of the Court
A minor that is under the care and control of the juvenile court and not his or her parent(s).
Witness
A person called by either side in a lawsuit to give testimony before the judge or jury.
Writ of Execution
An order issued by a court requiring the performance of a specified act, or giving authority to have it done.
For additional legal definitions approved by the State of California, click here to review California Family Code - Definitions [Div. 1, Part 2, Secs. 50-155].