Welcome to the Family Court Glossary
This page provides a list of commonly used words and phrases you may see or hear in Family Court. The glossary is designed to help explain court terms in clear, easy-to-understand language. We hope this resource makes it easier for you to understand court information and processes.
Motion To Dismiss
- An application to the court requesting an the dismissal of a petition.
Movant
- The party who initiates a motion.
Non-custodial Parent
- The parent who does not live with a child.
Notice of Appeal
- Written notice of intent to appeal a decision/order of a Family Court judge. An appeal shall be taken by filing the original notice of appeal with the clerk of the Family Court in which the order was made.
Nunc Pro Tunc
- “Now for then,” presently considered as if occurring at an earlier date, effective retroactively.
Objection To Support Magistrate's Order
- A specific written objection to an order made by a Support Magistrate. A review of such objection must be made by a judge. ( more >> ).
Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE)
- A division of the Administration of Children’s Services that provides custodians of children assistance in obtaining support, including financial and medical, establishing paternity and support obligations and enforcing such court orders.
Office of Children & Family Services (OCFS)
- The New York State agency which administers the institutional placement of minors after juvenile delinquency findings.
Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA)
- A New York State agency responsible for overseeing child support initiatives statewide.
Order Modified
- An order is modified when the Court changes the conditions or terms of an order made by a court.
Order of Filiation (OF)
- An order by the court legally declaring the a male party the biological father of a child, usually done on the basis of the filing of a paternity petition.
Order of Support (OS)
- An order directing payments of child support or combined child and spousal support.
Order of Support Reinstated
- An order reinstating an order of support previously suspended by the court.
Order of Support Suspended
- A temporary suspension of an order of support.
Order of Support Terminated
- An order that terminates an order of support based on findings of the court.
Order of Visitation
- Order which provides that the person who has custody of a child(ren) must allow the non-custodial parent or another person to visit the child(ren) on specific days and times.
Order to Produce (OTP)
- An order directing a state or city Commissioner of Corrections to produce an inmate for a court appearance.
Order to Show Cause (OTSC)
- An order made upon motion of one party (ex-parte) requiring the other party to appear and present reasons and objections (show cause) to the court against issuance of a proposed order. An OTSC is an accelerated method of bringing a matter before the court and may contain a proposed temporary order.
PaternityPetition
- A petition to have a court determine if a man is the biological father of a child born out-of-wedlock. ( more >> ).
Permanency Planning Hearing
- Hearing involving a child in foster care, court ordered or voluntary, to establish time frames for the return of the child to his/her home or other permanency plans, including adoption.
Permanent Neglect
- An allegation by an agency responsible for a child in foster care that believes that the child’s parents have not kept in contact, and have not planned for the child’s future.
Petition
- A signed, formal written request to a Family Court, that starts a case and asks for specific assistance from the court.
Petition Transferred
- An order directing that a petition be transferred to another venue.
Petitioner
- The person or agency filing the petition.
Placement
- The commitment or assignment of a person to a facility or to any supervisory, care or treatment program.