Legal Glossary

341 Meeting of Creditors

A short, informal meeting with the trustee — not a courtroom trial.

Automatic Stay

An instant legal shield that pauses all debt collection the moment you file.

Adversary Proceeding

A mini-lawsuit filed within your bankruptcy case to resolve a specific dispute.

Alimony

Financial support paid from one ex-spouse to another after divorce — also called spousal support.

Annulment

A court ruling that your marriage was never legally valid — treated as if it never happened.

Affidavit of Name Change

A sworn written statement used to notify certain institutions of your legal name change.

Adult Name Change

The standard court process for any person 18 or older to legally change their name.

Bankruptcy Discharge

The official court order that wipes out your eligible debts — your fresh start.

Bankruptcy Petition

The official paperwork you file with the court to start your bankruptcy case.

Bankruptcy Trustee

The court-appointed official who reviews your case and manages your assets.

Bankruptcy Estate

All the property and assets that become part of your bankruptcy case when you file.

Bankruptcy Exemptions

The laws that protect your property — home, car, savings — from being taken in bankruptcy.

Birth Certificate Amendment

Updating the name on your birth certificate with the state vital records office.

Bank Name Update

Updating your financial accounts and bank records after a legal name change.

Background Check Name Change

What to know if you have a criminal history and want to legally change your name.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

The most common type of bankruptcy — it wipes out most debts in 4–6 months.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

A 3–5 year repayment plan that lets you catch up on bills while keeping your stuff.

Credit Counseling

A required online course you must complete before filing bankruptcy — takes about 1 hour.

Contested Divorce

A divorce where spouses disagree on at least one issue — more complex, takes longer.

Community Property

A 9-state system where most things earned during marriage are owned 50/50 by both spouses.

Child Custody

Who has legal and physical responsibility for your children after divorce.

Child Support

Court-ordered payments to help cover your child's expenses — calculated by state formula.

Collaborative Divorce

A team-based process where both spouses commit in writing to resolving everything outside of court.

Court Order (Name Change)

The judge's signed decision approving your name change — your most important document.

Certified Copy

An official stamped copy of your court order — required to update government IDs.

Chosen Name

The new name you select as part of your legal name change proceeding.

Civil Court Filing

Where you file your name change — the civil division of your local county or district court.

Certified Copy

The official stamped copy of your court order that agencies require to update your records.

Dischargeable Debt

Debt that can be legally wiped out through bankruptcy — completely erased.

Debtor Education Course

A required financial management course you must finish after filing to get your discharge.

Dissolution of Marriage

The official legal process for ending a marriage — what most people call 'getting a divorce.'

Discovery

The formal process of gathering financial documents and information from both sides.

Deposition

A formal, sworn question-and-answer session where your answers become part of the legal record.

Divorce Decree

The official court order that legally ends your marriage and spells out all final terms.

Divorce Petition

The official document you file with the court to start the divorce process.

Driver's License Name Change

Updating your state driver's license or ID card after a legal name change.

DMV Name Update

Notifying the DMV of your legal name change to update your driver's license or state ID.

Divorce Decree Name Change

Restoring your former name using your divorce decree — no separate court petition needed.

DMV Name Change

How to update your driver's license or state ID after your legal name change.

Equitable Distribution

The most common property-division system — fair, but not necessarily 50/50.

Employer Notification (Name Change)

Informing your employer and updating HR, payroll, and benefits records after a name change.

Fresh Start

The new financial beginning bankruptcy gives you — zero debt, renewed credit, second chance.

Fault-Based Divorce

A divorce where one spouse claims the other's misconduct caused the marriage to end.

Final Judgment of Dissolution

The court's official order ending your marriage — the finish line of the divorce process.

Fault Divorce

A divorce where one spouse claims the other's wrongdoing — adultery, cruelty, or abandonment — caused the marriage to fail.

Former Name

The legal name you held before your name change — also called your birth name or previous name.

Fee Waiver (Name Change)

A court exemption from filing fees for low-income petitioners seeking a name change.

Filing Fee

The court fee you pay when submitting your name change petition — varies by state and county.

Fee Waiver

A court-approved exemption from filing fees for petitioners who can't afford to pay.

Name Change

Gender Marker Change

A legal process to update the gender designation on your government documents.

Homestead Exemption

Legal protection that shields the equity in your home during bankruptcy.

Joint Custody

Both parents share custody rights — the most common arrangement in modern divorce.

Liquidation

The process of selling non-exempt assets to pay creditors — rarely happens in consumer cases.

Legal Separation

A court-recognized split where you live apart but remain legally married.

Legal Custody

The right to make major decisions about your child's upbringing — school, healthcare, religion.

Legal Name Change

The court-ordered process to officially change your name on all government records.

Legal Name

Your official name as recognized by the government — the one on all your IDs.

Legal Name vs. Preferred Name

The difference between the name on your ID and the name you actually go by.

Means Test

A simple income calculation that determines if you qualify for Chapter 7.

Marital Property

Assets and debts you accumulated together during marriage — subject to division in divorce.

Marital Settlement Agreement

The written contract that settles everything in your divorce — property, support, and custody.

Mediation

A structured negotiation with a neutral third party to help both spouses reach agreement without trial.

Minor Name Change

The legal process for changing a child's name — requires parental consent or court approval.

Marriage Certificate Name Change

Using your marriage certificate — not a court order — to change your name after getting married.

Non-Dischargeable Debt

Debt that bankruptcy cannot erase — you'll still owe it after your case closes.

No-Fault Divorce

A divorce where neither spouse has to prove wrongdoing — available in all 50 states.

Name Change Decree

The official court document that legally authorizes and confirms your name change.

Name Change After Marriage

Updating your legal name following a marriage using your marriage certificate.

Name Change After Divorce

Restoring your former name through your divorce decree — no separate court petition needed.

Name Change Affidavit

A sworn written statement used to notify agencies of your name change.

Name Change Hearing

The brief court appearance where a judge reviews your petition and approves the name change.

Name Change Checklist

A comprehensive list of every agency and account that needs to be updated after a name change.

Name Change Certificate

The certified court document confirming your name change — used to update official records.

Notice of Hearing

The court document setting your name change hearing date and notifying interested parties.

Notarization

Having a notary verify your identity and witness your signature on name change documents.

Name Change Timeline

How long the name change process takes — and what happens at each stage.

Name Change Cost

What you can expect to pay when legally changing your name — and how to reduce costs.

Name Change Without Marriage

You don't have to be getting married or divorced to change your name — here's how.

Name Change for Transgender Individuals

A step-by-step guide to legally changing your name as part of gender affirmation.

Name Change Notification

The process of telling banks, employers, and agencies about your new legal name.

Name Change

Objection Period

The window after publication during which third parties can formally oppose your name change.

Order Granting Name Change

The court's signed approval that makes your new name official under the law.

Proof of Claim

The form a creditor files to formally claim they're owed money in your bankruptcy case.

Priority Debt

Debts that must be paid first in bankruptcy — like taxes and child support.

Petition for Divorce

The official paperwork that starts the divorce process — filed with the family court.

Petitioner

The spouse who files for divorce first — filing first is a neutral act, not an advantage.

Physical Custody

Where your child primarily lives and who handles their daily care.

Parenting Plan

A detailed written agreement covering custody, visitation schedules, and co-parenting rules.

Petition for Name Change

The official document you file with the court to start the name change process.

Publication Requirement

Some states require you to announce your name change in a newspaper before it's finalized.

Passport Name Change

Updating your U.S. passport to reflect your new legal name after a name change.

Proof of Identity

The documents the court requires to verify who you are when filing a name change petition.

Petition for Name Change

The official document you file with the court to kick off your name change.

Reaffirmation Agreement

A voluntary promise to keep paying a specific debt — like your car loan — after bankruptcy.

Reorganization Plan

A structured 3–5 year repayment schedule approved by the court in Chapter 13.

Respondent

The spouse who receives the divorce petition — you don't have to agree to stop a divorce.

Residency Requirement

How long you must live in a county or state before you can file for a name change there.

Secured Debt

Debt tied to a specific piece of property — if you stop paying, the lender can take it.

Stay of Proceedings

A court-ordered pause on lawsuits and legal actions against you — similar to the automatic stay.

Separate Property

Assets you owned before marriage or received as gifts/inheritance — usually yours to keep.

Spousal Support

Another term for alimony — financial payments from one ex-spouse to the other.

Sole Custody

One parent has primary custody rights — less common, typically when the other parent is unfit or absent.

Summons

The official court document notifying your spouse that a divorce case has been filed.

Summons (Divorce)

The official notice delivered to your spouse that a divorce case has been filed against them.

Settlement Agreement

The written contract that resolves all divorce issues between spouses — without a court trial.

Social Security Name Change

Updating your name with the SSA — the first step after getting your court order.

State Vital Records

The government office for birth certificates, death records, and marriage certificates.

State Name Change Requirements

The rules vary by state — residency, fees, publication, and forms differ where you live.

Temporary Orders

Court orders that govern your finances and family while the divorce is in progress.

Unsecured Debt

Debt not tied to any property — like credit cards and medical bills — the easiest to discharge.

Uncontested Divorce

A divorce where both spouses agree on everything — faster, cheaper, and less stressful.

Visitation Rights

The schedule and rules that define when a non-custodial parent spends time with their child.