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Caution:  This page contains GENERAL LEGAL INFORMATION ONLY. 
It is NOT LEGAL ADVICE nor a replacement for talking to a lawyer and getting legal advice about your case.    
The law can be complicated and the details of a case can be even more complicated!  There are exceptions for every rule. 
What you do not know can harm you.  Rely on general legal information AT YOUR OWN RISK.

—Legal Terminology [S]—

The following are informal definitions for common terms used in family law (and substituted decision-making law). They are intended to give you a simple but working understanding of these words and phrases. It is not intended to provide a full and formal legal definitions.  The focus is on he family law (or substituted decision-making law) ... the terms may have different definitions in other contexts.

"SCJ"
 (Ontario) Superior Court of Justice
"separation"
 spouses ceasing to cohabit
"service"
 formal delivery of a document (usually a court document) in a method approved by the rules of the court
"sine die"
 without a return date - Latin for "without a day" (e.g. adjourn sine die)
"solicitor"
 a lawyer who provides services that do not involving presenting or appearing in court (in Ontario, the positions of "Barrister and Solicitors" have been combined)
"solicitor-client privilege"
 see article Lawyers & Confidentiality
"spouses"

persons who:

  • are married
  • have cohabited together for some period (the period of time required will depend on the law providing the relief or benefit sought)

(Term may be used to refer to former spouses.)

"status quo"
 Latin for the existing state of affairs or the situation
"stay"
 suspend (such as "stay the proceeding" meaning suspend the case)
"submission"
 statements and arguments urging a judge to make certain decisions (they are not evidence, but refers to the evidence)
"subpoena"
  1. to require a person to attend before the court and testify (usually by giving vive voce evidence)
  2. the document that makes this requirement of a person
"substantive relief"
 an order that deals with end relief (such as custody, support, divorce, etc.), as opposed to "procedural relief" that deals with the process of the court (such as disclosure of documents or an adjournment)
"summary judgement"
 a final order made on motion, without a trial, based on there being no genuine issue for trial, given overwhelming evidence in support of a position
"Support Deduction Order"
 an order made automatically, when a support order is made, requiring the support payor's income source (such as an employer) to take support payments off the income payment and pay it to the support recipient usually through FRO)
"support"
 contribution to the expenses of a child or spouse, usually by the payment of money
"swear"
 to indicate, under oath, that the facts are true to the best of one's knowledge and belief
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Remember the caution given at the top of this page.
You may copy this article for personal use only.
To prododuce it for other purposes, the consent of Michaud Family Law is required.

Michaud Family Law     •    416-707-7976    •    2 County Court Blvd., Suite 434, Brampton, Ontario, L6W 3W8

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