Pendente lite is a Latin term that means “pending the suit” or “pending [the] litigation underway.”
In the context of family law, for example, parties can file motions for pendente lite custody and child support. In Johnson...
family & personal matters
per stirpes
Per stirpes is a Latin phrase that means “by roots” or “by branch.” This phrase often appears in the context of wills and retirement accounts to define how your assets should be passed down in the event a beneficiary passes away before you do...
personal guardian
A personal guardian is an individual, appointed by a court, who has custody of the ward (generally, a person who is a minor or legally incompetent) and the authority to make personal decisions for the ward.
For example, in...
physical custody
1) A parent’s right to have the child reside with them. New York Domestic Relations Law § 75–a defines physical custody as “the physical care and supervision of a child.” Physical custody is not the same as legal custody, which is the...
physical incapacity
Physical incapacity refers to a lack of physical ability sufficient to justify a legal consequence. The term is used across a realm of laws regarding disability, competency, criminal statutes, and marriage laws. The inclusion of the...
PKPA
The Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act of 1980 (PKPA) establishes national standards to determine jurisdiction in interstate custody disputes. PKPA does not impose a duty on the states to exercise jurisdiction over any child custody issues,...
policyholder
Policyholder is a person or entity that owns an insurance policy, and is also referred to as a policy owner. A policyholder enters an insurance policy with an insurance company and is the individual to whom the policy is issued as stated in...
polygamy
Polygamy is the practice of having more than one spouse at the same time. Polygamy as a crime originated in the common law, and it is now outlawed in every state. In the United States, polygamy was declared unlawful through the passing of...
pooled trust
A pooled trust can refer to any type of trust that is combined with other assets and managed by the same entity. While potentially referring to investment strategies, pooled trust typically refers to trusts used to benefit those with low...
posthumous child
A posthumous child is a child born after the death of one of their biological parents. This becomes important in the context of intestate succession or survivor benefits. Generally, children conceived before the death one parent are treated...