Testimonials
A Child Advocacy Company
Bringing Support to Parents
Building Strength to Children
Bringing Support to Parents
Building Strength to Children
May 2008
I called BS KIDS, as I was served papers for divorce. I didn't know where else to turn. A friend of mine suggested to give them a call. I was
amazed at how easy they made the process, explained all the options to me and told me what to expect during the entire process. I'm still
going through the process, but I understand what I can expect with every step in the process. Thanks BS Kids, I'd be lost without your
assistance.
Mr. SW
Manchester, NH
April 2008
I called BS KIDS, at the suggestion of one of my coworkers. They had heard that BS KIDS helped a couple of friends and I felt desperate.
Although I was working with an attorney, I didn't think I was getting all the information that I needed and felt powerless to provide my
attorney with what I wanted. While meeting with my BS KIDS Advocate, the entire process was put together for me. We talked about my
parental rights and responsibilities and I was able to create a parenting plan that worked for my kids. I was also educated on the laws
and felt that I could present the important facts to my attorney to litigate for me. Thanks BS KIDS. God bless you!
Ms. SA
Acton, Ma
February 2008
I had been putting off the divorce process for a number of years, I had heard horror stories about what happens to people who go through
the divorce process and since we had been living apart for a number of years, I didn't want the headache. Finally, it became clear that I
needed to go through the process. One of the social service agencies recommended BS KIDS to me, told me they could assist and get
me ready for the Court process. They were right! Although it still wasn't a pleasant experience, I was well prepared to work together to
reach an amicable settlement with my ex. Thanks BS KIDS. You guys are the greatest!
Mr. PA
Andover, Mass.
December 2007
I was in desperate need of assistance. I couldn't afford an attorney and didn't know what else to do. I had limited resources and someone
suggested calling BS KIDS. My BS KIDS advocate worked with me to get me informed on what to do, who to contact and educated me on
the process. I was confident when I had to walk into the court and found it less intimidating knowing exactly what to expect. Thanks BS
KIDS for all of your guidance, support and caring.
Ms SM
Nashua, NH
June 2007
I was referred to BS KIDS from a friend of mine. I was going through the initial stages of a divorce and had no idea what to expect or what
to do. We met and during the initial consultation, we came up with a strategy plan on how to begin and prepared. I didn’t have the funds for
an attorney, but Father did. We worked through the step by step approach we came up with and during the first mediation session,
finalized our divorced order. I couldn’t have even begun to get started without the assistance of BS KIDS. Thanks BS KIDS, you guys are
AWESOME!
Ms. JL
Wilmington, Ma.
March 2007
I was referred to BS KIDS from a friend of mine. I had no idea what to expect from the divorce experience, but my friend told me that I could
get through it with the help of BS KIDS. I met with my Advocate and we reviewed my situation, the necessary paperwork and they
answered my questions about child support, etc. I ended up filing a joint petition and we were divorced in less than a month. I was so
overwhelmed in the beginning, but meeting with the Advocate and getting a strategy plan was a god send. I would recommend BS KIDS to
anyone who is planning on divorcing, going through a divorce or filing a modification.
Ms. JV
Nashua, NH
HERE’S WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT BS KIDS:
Glossary
-A-
Abandonment – When one spouse leaves the marital home without consent, and is grounds for divorce
in some states.
Absent Parent – The parent who does not live with or have custodial rights to the child, but is still
responsible for support for the child. Usually referred to as the non-custodial parent.
Action – A lawsuit. In matrimonial matters, it is usually a lawsuit for a divorce, an annulment of a
legal separation
Adversarial Divorce – A divorce in which spouses are unable to come to an agreement.
Affidavit – A sworn statement of facts. Affidavits usually accompany motions and are used to avoid
having to appear in court personally to testify.
Alimony/Maintenance - Payments made by one spouse to the other to assist with the support of the
recipient spouse. Payments will usually terminate upon the death of either spouse, the remarriage of
the recipient spouse or a date decided by the judge or agreed upon by the husband and wife.
Payments received are usually taxable to the recipient spouse and tax deductible by the paying
spouse.
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) – Dispute resolution methods including arbitration and
mediation, which enable couples to reach a divorce settlement without a trial.
Arbitration – A legally binding, but not judicial procedure, involving a neutral third party making a
judgment on a case.
Arrearages – The amount of past-due, court-ordered child support owed by the non-custodial parent.
If a spouse does not pay the full amount of court-ordered support or does not make payments are
ordered, the amounts not paid are in arrearages. Interest and penalties on past-due amounts
become part of the arrearage.
Attachment – A hold that is placed on an asset pending judgment on a debt.
-B-
Best Interests of the Child – Legal standard that governs decisions relating to visitation and custody.
-C-
Capias – An arrest warrant issued by a civil or family court ordering an officer to take a person into
custody because they refuse to come to court of comply with an order of the court.
Child Support – A sum of money to be paid by one part to the other to assist with the support of the
couple’s children. In some jurisdictions, child support is paid to a state support collection unit which
in turn pays it to the recipient spouse. Child Support usually terminates upon a child’s emancipation.
Child Support Guidelines – The standard amount of support to be paid, established by your states
legislature. A mathematical formula is used to calculate the proper amount of child support in your
state.
Child Support Worksheet – A form used to calculate child support guidelines.
Cohabitation – The act of living with someone. In some states, cohabitation may be grounds for the
termination of support. In addition, some couples may agree when settling their case, that
cohabitation for a period of time, will cause support to be terminated.
Constructive Abandonment – The refusal of one spouse to engage in sexual relations with the other.
In some states, this may constitute grounds for divorce.
Community Property State – A state where nearly all property acquired during the marriage is
considered to belong equally to both parties.
Contempt of Court – Any deliberate failure to comply with the legal process, including the disruption
of the court and proceedings. In child support cases, contempt is disobedience of a court order to
pay child support. If a non-custodial parent is found in contempt for non-payment of support, they
may end up in jail.
Contested Divorce – A divorce where at least one issue has not been settled by the spouses before
they appear in court. The court must decide the unsettled issue or issues.
Court Order – A written document issued by a court and signed by a judge ordering a person to do
something.
-D-
Decision – The judge’s reasoning for why they directed something to be done or not done. Decisions
usually accompany orders. Findings of fact and conclusions of law are the same as a decision.
Default Order or Judgment – Order or judgment, made based only on the plaintiff’s complaint, due
to no response or appearance of the defendant.
Deposition – Answering questions under oath. In matrimonial matters, a deposition will usually center
on a party’s finances and will be conducted in a lawyer’s office or in the courthouse by a judge will not
be present. In some jurisdictions, the grounds for divorce may also be the subject of the
deposition. A stenographer takes down everything that is said and later types it up for review by
the parties and their attorneys.
Discovery – The formal procedure, according to the rules of the court, for gathering information
pertaining to the opposite party’s case. The term may also be used for the interview procedure
between the attorney and the client at the initial meeting.
-E-
Equitable Division (Distribution) – A system of equitably dividing property, acquired by spouses
during their marriage, in connection with a divorce proceeding.
Ex-Parte – Refers to situations in which only one party (and not the adversay) appears before a
judge. Although a judge is normally required to meet with all parties in a case and not just one, there
are circumstances where this rule does not apply and the judge is allowed to meet with just one side,
such as where a plaintiff requests an order or dismissal before the answer or appearance of the
defendants.
In addition, sometimes judges will issue temporary orders when time is limited or it would do no
apparent good to hear from the other side in of the dispute.
-F-
Father’s Rights – Legal principles and concepts supporting the idea that child custody and support
decisions must not discriminate against fathers.
Fault Based Divorce – A divorce granted when one member of the marriage is guilty of marital
misconduct.
Final Judgment – In some jurisdictions, when courts grant divorces, judgments do not become final
judgments until the expiration of a statutory waiting period known as the “interlocutory” or “nisi”
period. The period begins when the interlocutory judgment or initial judgment of divorce is entered
and ends upon the “final judgment” being entered. After a final judgment is entered, the marriage is
legally terminated.
-G-
Garnishment of Wages – A support enforcement process by which support payments are
automatically deducted from the non-custodial parent’s paycheck and delivered to the custodial
parent. This is an involuntary enforcement method of paying court-ordered support.
Good Cause – The standard of good cause can be sued by a custodial parent receiving public
assistance to excuse them from cooperating with state child support enforcement agencies, because
cooperation could potentially endanger themselves as well as their children. The standard of good
cause is usually applied as a result of documented violence and abuse by the non-custodial parent. A
custodial parent that is also a recipient of public assistance is usually required to cooperate with the
child support enforcement agency, as a condition of receiving assistance, by sharing address
information used to locate the non-custodial parent. Using the standard of good cause, because
cooperation would endanger the welfare recipient and the children, the custodial parent can be
excused from cooperating. A good cause finding is usually the result of documentation of violence and
abuse by the non-custodial parent.
Grounds – The legally sufficient reasons why a person is entitled to a divorce. While many states are
“no fault” states, where no grounds need be asserted other than incompatibility of irreconcilable
differences, other states require the plaintiff to prove grounds, such as adultery, abandonment or
mental cruelty.
Guardian Ad Litem – A person, sometimes a lawyer and sometimes a volunteer, who is selected by the
judge, who is assigned to represent the best interests of the children in divorce cases.
Abandonment – When one spouse leaves the marital home without consent, and is grounds for divorce
in some states.
Absent Parent – The parent who does not live with or have custodial rights to the child, but is still
responsible for support for the child. Usually referred to as the non-custodial parent.
Action – A lawsuit. In matrimonial matters, it is usually a lawsuit for a divorce, an annulment of a
legal separation
Adversarial Divorce – A divorce in which spouses are unable to come to an agreement.
Affidavit – A sworn statement of facts. Affidavits usually accompany motions and are used to avoid
having to appear in court personally to testify.
Alimony/Maintenance - Payments made by one spouse to the other to assist with the support of the
recipient spouse. Payments will usually terminate upon the death of either spouse, the remarriage of
the recipient spouse or a date decided by the judge or agreed upon by the husband and wife.
Payments received are usually taxable to the recipient spouse and tax deductible by the paying
spouse.
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) – Dispute resolution methods including arbitration and
mediation, which enable couples to reach a divorce settlement without a trial.
Arbitration – A legally binding, but not judicial procedure, involving a neutral third party making a
judgment on a case.
Arrearages – The amount of past-due, court-ordered child support owed by the non-custodial parent.
If a spouse does not pay the full amount of court-ordered support or does not make payments are
ordered, the amounts not paid are in arrearages. Interest and penalties on past-due amounts
become part of the arrearage.
Attachment – A hold that is placed on an asset pending judgment on a debt.
-B-
Best Interests of the Child – Legal standard that governs decisions relating to visitation and custody.
-C-
Capias – An arrest warrant issued by a civil or family court ordering an officer to take a person into
custody because they refuse to come to court of comply with an order of the court.
Child Support – A sum of money to be paid by one part to the other to assist with the support of the
couple’s children. In some jurisdictions, child support is paid to a state support collection unit which
in turn pays it to the recipient spouse. Child Support usually terminates upon a child’s emancipation.
Child Support Guidelines – The standard amount of support to be paid, established by your states
legislature. A mathematical formula is used to calculate the proper amount of child support in your
state.
Child Support Worksheet – A form used to calculate child support guidelines.
Cohabitation – The act of living with someone. In some states, cohabitation may be grounds for the
termination of support. In addition, some couples may agree when settling their case, that
cohabitation for a period of time, will cause support to be terminated.
Constructive Abandonment – The refusal of one spouse to engage in sexual relations with the other.
In some states, this may constitute grounds for divorce.
Community Property State – A state where nearly all property acquired during the marriage is
considered to belong equally to both parties.
Contempt of Court – Any deliberate failure to comply with the legal process, including the disruption
of the court and proceedings. In child support cases, contempt is disobedience of a court order to
pay child support. If a non-custodial parent is found in contempt for non-payment of support, they
may end up in jail.
Contested Divorce – A divorce where at least one issue has not been settled by the spouses before
they appear in court. The court must decide the unsettled issue or issues.
Court Order – A written document issued by a court and signed by a judge ordering a person to do
something.
-D-
Decision – The judge’s reasoning for why they directed something to be done or not done. Decisions
usually accompany orders. Findings of fact and conclusions of law are the same as a decision.
Default Order or Judgment – Order or judgment, made based only on the plaintiff’s complaint, due
to no response or appearance of the defendant.
Deposition – Answering questions under oath. In matrimonial matters, a deposition will usually center
on a party’s finances and will be conducted in a lawyer’s office or in the courthouse by a judge will not
be present. In some jurisdictions, the grounds for divorce may also be the subject of the
deposition. A stenographer takes down everything that is said and later types it up for review by
the parties and their attorneys.
Discovery – The formal procedure, according to the rules of the court, for gathering information
pertaining to the opposite party’s case. The term may also be used for the interview procedure
between the attorney and the client at the initial meeting.
-E-
Equitable Division (Distribution) – A system of equitably dividing property, acquired by spouses
during their marriage, in connection with a divorce proceeding.
Ex-Parte – Refers to situations in which only one party (and not the adversay) appears before a
judge. Although a judge is normally required to meet with all parties in a case and not just one, there
are circumstances where this rule does not apply and the judge is allowed to meet with just one side,
such as where a plaintiff requests an order or dismissal before the answer or appearance of the
defendants.
In addition, sometimes judges will issue temporary orders when time is limited or it would do no
apparent good to hear from the other side in of the dispute.
-F-
Father’s Rights – Legal principles and concepts supporting the idea that child custody and support
decisions must not discriminate against fathers.
Fault Based Divorce – A divorce granted when one member of the marriage is guilty of marital
misconduct.
Final Judgment – In some jurisdictions, when courts grant divorces, judgments do not become final
judgments until the expiration of a statutory waiting period known as the “interlocutory” or “nisi”
period. The period begins when the interlocutory judgment or initial judgment of divorce is entered
and ends upon the “final judgment” being entered. After a final judgment is entered, the marriage is
legally terminated.
-G-
Garnishment of Wages – A support enforcement process by which support payments are
automatically deducted from the non-custodial parent’s paycheck and delivered to the custodial
parent. This is an involuntary enforcement method of paying court-ordered support.
Good Cause – The standard of good cause can be sued by a custodial parent receiving public
assistance to excuse them from cooperating with state child support enforcement agencies, because
cooperation could potentially endanger themselves as well as their children. The standard of good
cause is usually applied as a result of documented violence and abuse by the non-custodial parent. A
custodial parent that is also a recipient of public assistance is usually required to cooperate with the
child support enforcement agency, as a condition of receiving assistance, by sharing address
information used to locate the non-custodial parent. Using the standard of good cause, because
cooperation would endanger the welfare recipient and the children, the custodial parent can be
excused from cooperating. A good cause finding is usually the result of documentation of violence and
abuse by the non-custodial parent.
Grounds – The legally sufficient reasons why a person is entitled to a divorce. While many states are
“no fault” states, where no grounds need be asserted other than incompatibility of irreconcilable
differences, other states require the plaintiff to prove grounds, such as adultery, abandonment or
mental cruelty.
Guardian Ad Litem – A person, sometimes a lawyer and sometimes a volunteer, who is selected by the
judge, who is assigned to represent the best interests of the children in divorce cases.
Disclaimer: BS Kids LLC legal research and information has been prepared for educational and informational purposes only. This material is not legal advice or legal
opinions on any specific matters. Transmission of the information is not intended to create and receipt does not constitute a lawyer-client relationship between BS Kids
LLC , the author of the information and any other legal publisher. Customers of BS Kids should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel. The
opinions expressed in the material presented to BS Kids clientele is based on information found in legal publications. BS Kids LLC, 6 Mackinac Court, Pooler, Ga. 31322
(912) 988-1001 or 781-756-1214.
opinions on any specific matters. Transmission of the information is not intended to create and receipt does not constitute a lawyer-client relationship between BS Kids
LLC , the author of the information and any other legal publisher. Customers of BS Kids should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel. The
opinions expressed in the material presented to BS Kids clientele is based on information found in legal publications. BS Kids LLC, 6 Mackinac Court, Pooler, Ga. 31322
(912) 988-1001 or 781-756-1214.
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