Family Law and Court Management Procedures

Vocabulary and procedural concepts for Family Law court clerks, focusing on Enterprise Justice (Odyssey Navigator) and legal terminology.

Claimant

An individual or entity joined or trying to be joined as a party to the case.

Respondent Jurisdiction

The Court acquires jurisdiction over the Respondent upon effectuation of service and the filing of the Proof of Service or appearance of the Respondent in an action.

Request of Entry of Default deadline

Petitioner has $30$ days to file if Respondent has not responded.

Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure (FL-141)

A mandatory filing that cannot be waived.

Summary Dissolution Qualifications

Marriage must be less than $5$ years, no kids, agreement to separate property, and no request of spousal support.

LACIV 117 / ADM 196

The Stipulation to Court Commissioner that all parties must sign once per case prior to the commissioner hearing argument.

Enterprise Justice (Odyssey Navigator)

The Case Management System (CMS) used in Family Law.

Enterprise Justice (EJ) Sections

Divided into $4$ sections: Main Menu (blue bar), Left Panel List, Right Panel Work Area (main work area), and Command Legend.

Detail tab

Section of EJ that allows you to add case flag and related case.

Hearing Tab

Section of EJ that allows you to view past and future Court Dates.

Enterprise Custom Reports (ECR)

Generates the Family Law Calendar.

The 4 C's for Communication in MO's

Clear (understandable), Concise (essential info only), Complete (details, rulings, deadlines), and Correct (accurate terminology, neutral tone).

4 Components of the Motion Formula

1. Who made the motion; 2. Format (Oral or Written); 3. Type of Motion; 4. Court's ruling (Granted or Denied).

Clerk Edition

A separate minute order application for date entry by Judicial Assistant, designed to work alongside Enterprise Justice.

Core Activity

An activity that sends date back to Enterprise Justice.

Custom Activity

An activity that has custom fields for minute order language.

Macro

A group of activities that can be selected and prefilled to populate minute order language.

Arrears

Past due child or spousal support.

Dissolution

The only petition used to end the marriage.

Entry of Judgment Timeframe

Parties must wait $6$ months and $1$ day from the date the court acquires jurisdiction; this cannot be waived.

Void Grounds for Nullity

Incest or bigamy.

Voidable Grounds for Nullity

Fraud, unsounds mind, prior existing marriage, force, physical incapacity, or petitioner underage.

Paternity Confidentiality

Cases filed in $2023$ or before are confidential; cases filed $2024$ onward are non-confidential.

OSC re Contempt

The type of proceeding that is criminal in nature.

Citee Rights

Against self-incrimination, right to counsel, right to cross examine witness, and right to speedy trial after arraignment.

RFO (Request for Order)

A motion that either party can file; requires mediation if asking for custody or visitation.

Sole Legal Custody

One parent can make all the decisions for the child without the other parent.

Joint Legal Custody

Both parents make decisions for the child.

Primary Physical Custody

There is a visitation schedule for the other party.

Gavron Warning

Tells the party receiving support they must make good effort to receive employment or risk termination/modification of support.

QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order)

An order issued by the court regarding division of a pension plan or retirement account.

Community Debt

Debt parties acquire during marriage.

PPA (Parenting Plan Assessment) Slots

There are $2$ PPA slots available each month, per department.

PPA Form Preparation

Prepare forms $FL-327$, $FCS\,007$, $FCS\,042$, and $FCS\,031$.