Divorce Terms - R

REAL PROPERTY - All benefits, interests, and rights that go with the ownership of physical real estate.

 

REBUTTAL - The presentation of evidence in response to an issue brought up by the opposing party.

 

RECIPROCITY - Cooperation betweens states and countries to establish and enforce child support. Laws made in each jurisdiction are enforced in other

jurisdictions regardless of the laws that are practiced there.

 

RECORD - What the judge uses to make a decision about a case. All testimony and evidence presented in court is added to the record.

 

REGISTRY - The unit of the court which receives and disburses money, more specifically child support.

 

REHABILITATIVE ALIMONY – Temporary alimony provided in the hope that it will help a divorced spouse become financially self sufficient.

 

REIMBURSEMENT -An amount of money that is owed by the defendant to the government for welfare that was provided for the support of the child.

 

REMAND - Process of sending a case back to court to be retried because of an important mistake the judge made during the first trial. 

 

REQUEST FOR PRODUCTION - When one attorney requests the other side produce financial documents they feel are necessary to the case.

 

RESIDENCE - the place where a spouse lives.

 

RESPONDENT - the defendant in a divorce.

 

RESPONSE - Document filed by the respondent to respond to the complaint filed against him or her. 

 

RESTRAINING ORDER – A court order issued for one spouse to protect them against violent or illegal acts by the other spouse. The court order restricts the other person’s actions.

 

RETAINER -Initial fee paid to an attorney to work on a case.

 

RETAINER AGREEMENT - Written contract between lawyer and client detailing the responsibilities they owe to each other.

 

RIGHT OF SURVIVORSHIP - In the case of joint owners, this declares the right of one owner to receive the share of the others property once the other owner dies.

 

RURESA - Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act, act that ensures cross state enforcement of support orders.