family courts
Domestic dispute judges
Family courts are specialized courts that handle domestic and family matters—divorce, child custody, adoption, guardianship, domestic violence, and juvenile cases.
The proceedings often emphasize mediation and the welfare of children over adversarial litigation.
The custody dispute dragged through family court for months.
Official or formal visit
- parenting timeScheduled custody access
- joint custodyDivided parental legal responsibility
- sole custodyOne parent's complete authority
- legal guardianCourt-appointed child protector
best interests · child welfare · parental rights · co-parenting · primary caregiver · custodial parent · noncustodial parent · parenting plan
Court-enforced avoidance mandate
- domestic violenceAbuse between household members
- protective orderCourt mandate forbidding contact
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
- neglectFailure to provide care
safety · supervised visitation · shelter · intervention · mandatory reporting · victim advocate · emergency order · no-contact order
Court-ordered post-divorce payments
- annulmentDeclared void from start
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
- separationState of being apart
- dissolutionBreaking up completely
spousal support · division of assets · petitioner · respondent · uncontested · contested · marital property · prenuptial
One who decides
- magistrateCivil judicial officer
- jurisdictionLegal authority's scope
- hearingPerceiving sound waves
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
attorney · lawyer · docket · ruling · appeal · courtroom · petition · motion
Resolving disputes through dialogue
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- dispute resolutionSettling conflicts formally
- neutralNot favoring any side
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
arbitration · facilitation · agreement · cooperative · good faith · confidential · voluntary · binding
Mandated parental financial contribution
- enforcementCompelling compliance with rules
- income withholdingPre-payment salary extraction
- arrearsOverdue financial obligations
- obligorOne bound by contract
obligee · modification · garnishment · contempt · guidelines · calculation · dependent · medical support
visitation
Official or formal visit
- parenting timeScheduled custody access
- joint custodyDivided parental legal responsibility
- sole custodyOne parent's complete authority
legal guardian · best interests · child welfare · parental rights · co-parenting · primary caregiver · custodial parent · noncustodial parent · parenting plan · physical custody
restraining order
Court-enforced avoidance mandate
- domestic violenceAbuse between household members
- protective orderCourt mandate forbidding contact
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
neglect · safety · supervised visitation · shelter · intervention · mandatory reporting · victim advocate · emergency order · no-contact order · stalking
alimony
Court-ordered post-divorce payments
- annulmentDeclared void from start
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
- separationState of being apart
dissolution · spousal support · division of assets · petitioner · respondent · uncontested · contested · marital property · prenuptial · postnuptial
judge
One who decides
- magistrateCivil judicial officer
- jurisdictionLegal authority's scope
- hearingPerceiving sound waves
testimony · attorney · lawyer · docket · ruling · appeal · courtroom · petition · motion · order
conciliation
Resolving disputes through dialogue
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- dispute resolutionSettling conflicts formally
- neutralNot favoring any side
compromise · arbitration · facilitation · agreement · cooperative · good faith · confidential · voluntary · binding · non-adversarial
child support
Mandated parental financial contribution
- enforcementCompelling compliance with rules
- income withholdingPre-payment salary extraction
- arrearsOverdue financial obligations
obligor · obligee · modification · garnishment · contempt · guidelines · calculation · dependent · medical support · cost of living adjustment
- courtsmagistrates, tribunals
- family lawchild custody, child support, alimony, divorce petitions, divorce law
- Family Policyparental leave, maternity leave, paternity leave, child benefit, child benefits
- Hawaii Governmentstate legislature, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state constitution, judiciary
- lower courtssmall claims, justice of the peace, bench trial, bench trials, docket
- orphan careorphanages, orphans, foundlings, foster care, foster homes
family courtscriminal courts
Forums adjudicating offenses
criminal justice system · civil courts · supreme courts · appellate courts · military tribunals
family, court, familiar, courteous, unfamiliar, courts, familiarity, courtship, families