Definition

1. Noun:
   • A specialized court in some U.S. states: A "domestic relations court" is a type of court that has legal authority over cases involving family law matters and disputes.
   • Jurisdiction over family disputes: Its primary function is to handle legal conflicts within families, particularly those concerning children, such as custody, support, and visitation.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The custody case was heard in the domestic relations court.
  • She filed for child support in the domestic relations court.

Advanced Usage

• "to appear before the domestic relations court": to have a legal proceeding in this specific court.
  • Both parents were required to appear before the domestic relations court for the hearing.

Variants and Related Words

• Family court (n): A more common general term for a court handling similar family law matters.
  • The issue was transferred from the domestic relations court to the family court.
• Domestic relations (n): The area of law dealing with family matters like marriage, divorce, and child custody.
  • He is a lawyer who specializes in domestic relations.

Synonyms

• Family court: A court with jurisdiction over family law cases.
• Juvenile and domestic relations court: A court that may handle both juvenile delinquency and family law matters in some jurisdictions.

Notes on Meaning

• The term "domestic relations court" is specific to certain legal systems, primarily within the United States. In other regions or countries, equivalent functions are typically handled by a family court or a division of a general civil court. Its focus is distinctly on legal issues arising from family relationships.

Noun

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