Article 1 Support Obligations
Article 1.5 Delinquent Child Support Obligations and Financial Institution Data Match
Article 2 Collections and Enforcement
Article 3 Program Compliance
Article 4 Program Costs

Terms Used In California Codes > Family Code > Division 17 > Chapter 2 - Child Support Enforcement

  • action taken: means a collective decision made by the members of a state body, a collective commitment or promise by the members of the state body to make a positive or negative decision or an actual vote by the members of a state body when sitting as a body or entity upon a motion, proposal, resolution, order or similar action. See California Government Code 11122
  • Adjourn: A motion to adjourn a legislative chamber or a committee, if passed, ends that day's session.
  • Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
  • Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.
  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • applicator: refers to "structural pest control applicator. See California Business and Professions Code 8507.1
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Baseline: Projection of the receipts, outlays, and other budget amounts that would ensue in the future without any change in existing policy. Baseline projections are used to gauge the extent to which proposed legislation, if enacted into law, would alter current spending and revenue levels.
  • board: means any entity listed in Section 101, the entities referred to in Sections 1000 and 3600, the State Bar, the Department of Real Estate, and any other state agency that issues a license, certificate, or registration authorizing a person to engage in a business or profession. See California Business and Professions Code 31
  • Board: means any department receiving an allocation of bond proceeds pursuant to this chapter. See California Government Code 8879.22
  • Board: means the Wildlife Conservation Board. See California Fish and Game Code 1452
  • California deserts region: includes the portions of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts, across 26,000,000 acres of southeastern California lying within the Counties of Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego that is within the California Desert Conservation Area as that area was delineated in the map and legal description of the California Desert Conservation Area prepared by the United States Secretary of the Interior pursuant to Section 1781(c) of Title 43 of the United States Code, as that map and legal description was in effect on December 31, 2020, and the portions of the Bureau of Land Management's Bakersfield and Bishop Resource Management Plans, as amended by the Record of Decision, dated September 14, 2016, of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan Land Use Plan Amendment. See California Fish and Game Code 1452
  • Case law: The law as laid down in cases that have been decided in the decisions of the courts.
  • Charity: An agency, institution, or organization in existence and operating for the benefit of an indefinite number of persons and conducted for educational, religious, scientific, medical, or other beneficent purposes.
  • Commission: means the Fish and Game Commission, and "commissioner" means a member of the Fish and Game Commission. See California Fish and Game Code 30
  • Committee: means the Safe Drinking Water Finance Committee created by Section 13816. See California Water Code 13815
  • Committee: means the Safe Drinking Water Finance Committee, created by Section 13858. See California Water Code 13857
  • Committee: means the Safe Drinking Water Finance Committee created by Section 13895. See California Water Code 13895.5
  • Committee: means the Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Committee created pursuant to Section 8879. See California Government Code 8879.22
  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • Contamination: includes any equivalent effect resulting from the disposal of waste, whether or not waters of the state are affected. See California Water Code 13050
  • Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
  • County: includes city and county. See California Water Code 14
  • County: includes "city and county. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
  • County: includes city and county. See California Family Code 67
  • County: includes city and county. See California Fish and Game Code 32
  • Day: means calendar day, and "week" means calendar week. See California Fish and Game Code 35
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Department: means the Department of Motor Vehicles except, when used in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 2100) of Division 2 and in Divisions 11 (commencing with Section 21000), 12 (commencing with Section 24000), 13 (commencing with Section 29000), 14 (commencing with Section 31600), 14. See California Vehicle Code 290
  • Department: means the Department of Water Resources. See California Water Code 13815
  • Department: means the Department of Water Resources. See California Water Code 13857
  • Department: means the Department of Water Resources. See California Water Code 13881
  • Department: means the Department of Water Resources. See California Water Code 13895.5
  • Department: means the Department of Fish and Wildlife. See California Fish and Game Code 37
  • Department: means the Department of Fish and Wildlife. See California Fish and Game Code 1452
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • Devise: To gift property by will.
  • director: refer to the Department of General Services and the Director of General Services, respectively, unless the context otherwise requires. See California Government Code 14602
  • Director: means the Director of Fish and Wildlife. See California Fish and Game Code 39
  • Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Domestic water system: means a system for the provision to the public of piped water for human consumption, if such system has at least 15 service connections or regularly supplies water to at least 25 individuals. See California Water Code 13857
  • Domestic water system: means a system for the provision to the public of piped water for human consumption, if such system has at least 15 service connections or regularly supplies water to at least 25 individuals. See California Water Code 13881
  • Domestic water system: means a system for the provision to the public of piped water for human consumption, if the system has at least five service connections or regularly supplies water to at least 25 individuals. See California Water Code 13895.5
  • Donor: The person who makes a gift.
  • Entitlement: A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law. Entitlements constitute a binding obligation on the part of the Federal Government, and eligible recipients have legal recourse if the obligation is not fulfilled. Social Security and veterans' compensation and pensions are examples of entitlement programs.
  • Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
  • Executive session: A portion of the Senate's daily session in which it considers executive business.
  • Fair market value: The price at which an asset would change hands in a transaction between a willing, informed buyer and a willing, informed seller.
  • Family support: means an agreement between the parents, or an order or judgment, that combines child support and spousal support without designating the amount to be paid for child support and the amount to be paid for spousal support. See California Family Code 92
  • Federal assistance: means funds available or which may become available to a supplier either directly or through allocation by the state, from the federal government as grants or loans for the improvement of domestic water systems. See California Water Code 13857
  • Federal assistance: means funds available, or which may become available, to a supplier either directly or through allocation by the state from the federal government as grants or loans for the improvement of domestic water systems. See California Water Code 13895.5
  • Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.
  • field representative: refers to "structural pest control field representative. See California Business and Professions Code 8507
  • Fish: means a wild fish, mollusk, crustacean, invertebrate, amphibian, or part, spawn, or ovum of any of those animals. See California Fish and Game Code 45
  • Fishery: means both of the following:

    California Fish and Game Code 94

  • Forgery: The fraudulent signing or alteration of another's name to an instrument such as a deed, mortgage, or check. The intent of the forgery is to deceive or defraud. Source: OCC
  • Fund: means the California Safe Drinking Water Fund. See California Water Code 13815
  • Fund: means the California Safe Drinking Water Fund. See California Water Code 13857
  • Fund: means the California Safe Drinking Water Fund created pursuant to Section 13859. See California Water Code 13881
  • Fund: means the California Safe Drinking Water Fund. See California Water Code 13895.5
  • Fund: means the Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Fund of 2006 created pursuant to Section 8879. See California Government Code 8879.22
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Hazardous waste: means a waste, or combination of wastes, that because of its quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics may do any of the following:

    California Health and Safety Code 101075

  • Highway: is a way or place of whatever nature, publicly maintained and open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. See California Vehicle Code 360
  • Income and expense declaration: means the form for an income and expense declaration in family law matters adopted by the Judicial Council. See California Family Code 95
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Interest rate: The amount paid by a borrower to a lender in exchange for the use of the lender's money for a certain period of time. Interest is paid on loans or on debt instruments, such as notes or bonds, either at regular intervals or as part of a lump sum payment when the issue matures. Source: OCC
  • Joint committee: Committees including membership from both houses of teh legislature. Joint committees are usually established with narrow jurisdictions and normally lack authority to report legislation.
  • Licensee: means any person authorized by a license, certificate, registration, or other means to engage in a business or profession regulated by this code or referred to in Sections 1000 and 3600. See California Business and Professions Code 23.8
  • meeting: includes any congregation of a majority of the members of a state body at the same time and place to hear, discuss, or deliberate upon any item that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the state body to which it pertains. See California Government Code 11122.5
  • Month: means a calendar month, unless otherwise expressed. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
  • motor vehicle: includes a recreational vehicle as that term is defined in subdivision (a) of §. See California Vehicle Code 415
  • native plant: means a plant growing in a wild uncultivated state which is normally found native to the plantlife of this state. See California Fish and Game Code 1901
  • Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
  • Nonprofit organization: means any private, nonprofit organization that qualifies for exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and has among its principal charitable purposes the preservation of real property for scientific, historic, educational, recreational, scenic, or open-space values, the protection of the natural environment, or the preservation and enhancement of fisheries and wildlife or their habitat. See California Fish and Game Code 1452
  • Oath: includes affirmation. See California Military and Veterans Code 15
  • obligor: means a person owing a duty of support. See California Family Code 17212
  • operator: refers to "structural pest control operator. See California Business and Professions Code 8506
  • order: include a decree, as appropriate under the circumstances. See California Family Code 100
  • out of wedlock: means that the biological parents of the child were not married to each other at the time of the child's conception. See California Family Code 17400
  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • Person: includes any city, county, district, the state, and the United States, to the extent authorized by federal law. See California Water Code 13050
  • Person: includes a natural person, firm, copartnership, association, limited liability company, or corporation. See California Vehicle Code 470
  • Person: includes a natural person, firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation, limited liability company, or public entity. See California Family Code 105
  • Person: means any natural person or any partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust, or other type of association. See California Fish and Game Code 67
  • pest control: as used in this chapter are synonymous. See California Business and Professions Code 8505
  • Petitioner: includes plaintiff, where appropriate. See California Family Code 126
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Proceeding: includes an action. See California Family Code 110
  • Program: means the California Desert Conservation Program. See California Fish and Game Code 1452
  • Project: means proposed facilities for the construction, improvement, or rehabilitation of the domestic water system, and may include water supply, treatment works, and all or part of a water distribution system, if necessary to carry out the purpose of this chapter. See California Water Code 13815
  • Project: means proposed facilities for the construction, improvement, or rehabilitation of the domestic water system, and may include water supply, treatment works, and all or part of a water distribution system, if such inclusions are necessary to carry out the purpose of this chapter. See California Water Code 13857
  • Project: means proposed facilities for the construction, improvement, or rehabilitation of the domestic water system, and may include water supply, treatment works, and all or part of a water distribution system, if such inclusions are necessary to carry out the purpose of this chapter. See California Water Code 13881
  • Project: means proposed facilities for the construction, improvement, or rehabilitation of the domestic water system, and may include water supply, treatment works, and all or part of a water distribution system, if necessary to carry out the purpose of this chapter. See California Water Code 13895.5
  • property: includes property real and personal. See California Civil Code 14
  • Property: includes both personal and real property. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
  • Property: includes real and personal property and any interest therein. See California Family Code 113
  • Public agency: means any city, county, district, or other political subdivision of the state which owns or operates a domestic water system. See California Water Code 13881
  • Public agency: means any city, county, city and county, district, joint powers authority, or other political subdivision of the state which owns or operates a domestic water system. See California Water Code 13895.5
  • Purchase: means "buy" as defined in Section 24. See California Fish and Game Code 68
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Respondent: includes defendant, where appropriate. See California Family Code 127
  • Sell: includes offer for sale, expose for sale, possess for sale, exchange, barter, or trade. See California Food and Agricultural Code 44
  • Sell: includes offer or possess for sale, barter, exchange, or trade. See California Fish and Game Code 75
  • Sequester: To separate. Sometimes juries are sequestered from outside influences during their deliberations.
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • Spousal support: means support of the spouse of the obligor. See California Family Code 142
  • Spouse: includes "registered domestic partner" as required by Section 297. See California Family Code 143
  • Spouse: includes "registered domestic partner" as required by §. See California Government Code 12.2
  • State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Water Code 18
  • State: means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, or a commonwealth, territory, or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. See California Family Code 145
  • State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Fish and Game Code 83
  • state agency: includes every state office, officer, department, division, bureau, board, and commission. See California Government Code 11000
  • state body: means each of the following:

    California Government Code 11121

  • Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
  • stock: means a species, subspecies, geographical grouping, or other category of fish capable of management as a unit. See California Fish and Game Code 98.5
  • Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Water Code 10
  • Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Fish and Game Code 73
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • Support: refers to a support obligation owing on behalf of a child, spouse, or family, or an amount owing pursuant to Section 17402. See California Family Code 150
  • Support order: means a judgment or order of support in favor of an obligee, whether temporary or final, or subject to modification, termination, or remission, regardless of the kind of action or proceeding in which it is entered. See California Family Code 155
  • Take: means hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill. See California Fish and Game Code 86
  • Temporary restraining order: Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.
  • Treatment works: means any devices or systems used in the treatment of water supplies, including necessary lands, which render such supplies pure, wholesome, and potable for domestic purpose. See California Water Code 13857
  • Treatment works: means any devices or systems used in the treatment of water supplies, including necessary lands, which render such supplies pure, wholesome, and potable for domestic purpose. See California Water Code 13881
  • Treatment works: means any devices or systems used in the treatment of water supplies, including necessary lands, which render water supplies pure, wholesome, and potable for domestic purpose. See California Water Code 13895.5
  • Tribe: means any federally recognized Native American tribe or a nonfederally recognized Native American tribe listed on the California Tribal Consultation List maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission. See California Fish and Game Code 1452
  • Uphold: The decision of an appellate court not to reverse a lower court decision.
  • vehicle: is a device by which any person or property may be propelled, moved, or drawn upon a highway, excepting a device moved exclusively by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. See California Vehicle Code 670
  • Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
  • war: shall mean : (a) whenever Congress has declared war and peace has not been formally restored. See California Military and Veterans Code 18
  • Waste: means either of the following:

    California Health and Safety Code 101075

  • Wildlife: means and includes all wild animals, birds, plants, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and related ecological communities, including the habitat upon which the wildlife depends for its continued viability. See California Fish and Game Code 89.5
  • Will: includes codicil. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
  • Writing: includes printing and typewriting. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17