Terms Used In California Codes > Family Code > Division 9 > Part 1 > Chapter 2 - General Provisions

• Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
• Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
• County: includes city and county. See California Family Code 67
• custody: means the legal right to custody of the child unless that right is held jointly by two or more persons, in which case "custody" means the physical custody of the child by one of the persons sharing the right to custody. See California Welfare and Institutions Code 17.1
• department: means State Department of Health Services. See California Health and Safety Code 20
• Department: means the State Department of Developmental Services. See California Welfare and Institutions Code 4401
• Director: means "State Director of Health Services. See California Health and Safety Code 21
• Director: means the Director of Developmental Services. See California Welfare and Institutions Code 4401
• Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
• 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
• Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
• order: include a decree, as appropriate under the circumstances. See California Family Code 100
• Person: includes a natural person, firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation, limited liability company, or public entity. See California Family Code 105
• Proceeding: includes an action. See California Family Code 110
• 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
• 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 hospital: means any hospital specified in Section 4440. See California Welfare and Institutions Code 4401
• 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
• Testify: Answer questions in court.
• Uphold: The decision of an appellate court not to reverse a lower court decision.