If you have recently started a family law case, whether it be a divorce, custody case, etc., you are likely being bombarded with various acronyms from the Court as well as attorneys. Below are a few of the more commonly used acronyms to help you wade through.
- ICMC – Initial Case Management Conference. This is an informal meeting with the Judge and the parties regarding what are the issues in the case and how they can go about resolving them.
- SENE – Social Early Neutral Evaluation. This is an evaluative process where the parties meet with either a male and female team of providers or just one provider and they discuss custody and parenting time issues. The evaluator(s) after hearing from the parties make a recommendation based upon their experience, training, etc. After hearing the recommendations, the parties can agree to this, negotiate some more or choose to go back to court.
- FENE – Financial Early Neutral Evaluation. This is an evaluative process where the parties meet with generally one provider and they discuss the financial issues in the case. The evaluator after hearing from the parties makes a recommendation based upon their experience, training etc. After hearing the recommendations, the parties can agree to this, negotiate some more or choose to go back to court.
- J&D – Judgment and Decree; short for Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, Order for Judgment and Judgment and Decree. This is your final order from the Court officially ordering you divorced and resolving all issues in your case.
- QDRO – Qualified Domestic Relations Order. This is the Order that divides retirement accounts after you divorce case is done.
- OFP – Order for Protection. This is an Order that you can request from the Court when you are in fear of imminent physical harm from a family member.
- HRO – Harassment Restraining Order. This is an Order that you can request from the Court when you are being harassed by an individual, regardless of the connection to you, where you feel your safety, security or privacy is being harmed.
