Definition

1. Noun:
   • A specialized court in some U.S. states: A "court of domestic relations" is a judicial body with legal authority over cases involving family and household matters.
   • Jurisdiction over family disputes: This court specifically handles conflicts within families, particularly those concerning children, such as custody, support, and visitation.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The couple filed their divorce papers at the county's court of domestic relations.
  • Matters of child support are typically handled by the court of domestic relations.
  • The judge in the court of domestic relations ruled on the custody arrangement.

Advanced Usage

• "to appear before the court of domestic relations": To be present for a legal proceeding in this specific type of court.
  • She had to appear before the court of domestic relations to modify the child support order.

Variants and Related Words

• Family court (n): A more common modern term for a court with similar jurisdiction over family law matters.
  • The case was transferred from the probate court to family court.
• Domestic relations law (n): The area of law dealing with family-related issues like marriage, divorce, and child custody.
  • She is an attorney who specializes in domestic relations law.

Synonyms

• Family court: A court dealing with family law.
• Juvenile and domestic relations court: A court often combining jurisdiction over juvenile delinquency and family disputes.

Notes on Meaning

• This term is specific to the legal system of the United States and is not universally used. Its function and name can vary significantly from state to state. In many jurisdictions, these specialized functions are now performed by a family court division within the general court system. The term emphasizes the court's focus on the "domestic" or household sphere of relations.

Noun

1. a court in some states in the United States that has jurisdiction over family disputes (especially those involving children)