Glossary I

Glossary of Legal Definitions

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The following list of legal definitions taken from the California Court's website may be useful in your California Family Law case. For further definitions in other areas of law not covered here, please visit the California Court's website.

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In Forma Pauperis

This is a Latin phrase meaning permission given by a court to a person to file a case without paying the required court fees because the person can’t afford to pay them.

Infraction

A minor violation of a law, contract, or right that is not a misdemeanor or a felony and can’t be punished by time in prison. (Compare felony, misdemeanor.)

Initiating Jurisdiction

The state or county court, or administrative agency, that sends a request for action to another jurisdiction in interstate child support cases.

Injunction

A court order that says a defendant can’t perform, or must perform, a specific act. (Compare enjoin, restraining order.)

In Limine

Latin for “at the beginning” or “at the threshold,” such as a motion in limine at the beginning of trial to ask that certain evidence be excluded.

In Propria Persona (In Pro Per)

When a person represents himself or herself without a lawyer. This comes from the Latin for “in one’s own proper person.” (See also pro per, pro se.)

Installment Payments

Weekly, monthly, or other periodic payments on a debt.

Instructions

The explanation of constitutional rights given by a judge to a defendant.

Intercept

When nonwage payments (like federal income tax refunds, state income tax refunds, unemployment benefits, and disability benefits) made to a parent that owes support are taken and given to the parent who is owed support.

Interpreter

A person that is certified as being able to translate, orally or in writing, spoken or sign language into the common language of the court.

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. (See also discovery.)

Interstate Cases

In child support, cases where the dependent child and the parent that owes support live in different states, or where 2 or more states are involved in some case activity, like enforcement.

Inventory

(1) A detailed list of property; (2) the number of cases in various stages of the court process.

Issue

(1) The disputed point between parties in a lawsuit; (2) to send out officially, as when a court issues an order.

IV-A(“4-A”) Case

A child support case where a custodial parent and child(ren) get public assistance benefits under the state’s IV-A program, which is funded under title IV-A of the Social Security Act. Applicants for IV-A assistance are automatically referred to their state IV-D agency in order to identify and locate the noncustodial parent, establish paternity and/or a child support order, and/or obtain child support payments. This lets the state get back some or all of its public assistance money from the noncustodial parent. (See also IV-D, public assistance, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).)

IV-D (“4-D”)

Refers to title IV-D of the Social Security Act, which says that each state must create a program to find noncustodial parents, establish paternity, establish and enforce child support obligations, and collect and distribute support payments. Any person that gets public assistance (usually TANF) is referred to the state IV-D child support program. States must also accept applications from families that do not get public assistance, if requested, to help collect child support.

IV-E (“4-E”)

Refers to title IV-E of the Social Security Act, which established a federal-state foster care program that gives financial support to a person, family, or institution that is raising a child or children not their own. (See also foster care.)IV-E (“4-E”) Case: A child support case where the state provides benefits or services under title IV-E of the Social Security Act to a person, family, or institution that is raising child(ren) not their own. As with other public assistance cases, the people that get public assistance are referred to their state IV-D program in order to identify and find the noncustodial parent, establish paternity and/or a child support order, and/or obtain child support payments. This allows the state to get back some or all of its public assistance payments from the noncustodial parent. (See also IV-D.)

IEP

Stands for “individualized education program.” An IEP is designed to meet the exceptional educational needs of public school students that are eligible for special education services.

Inactive Case

A pending case that has been filed, but for some reason can’t be processed by the court.

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 Withholding

When automatic deductions are made from wages or income to pay a debt like child support. Income withholding is often part of a child support order. It can be voluntary or involuntary. (See also direct income withholding,wage withholding.)

Indemnity

An obligation to provide compensation (usually money) for a loss, injury, or damage.

Indigent

This term usually refers to a person that is poor, needy, and has no one to look to for support.

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