Parental responsibility
The right to have input into a decisions about a child's life.
Part 25 Application
Application used if expert evidence is required.
Part III Claim
Part III of the Matrimonial and Family Procedings Act 1984 allows a party to claim relief from the English courts after an overseas divorce, in certain circumstances.
Parties
The petitioner and respondent in divorce proceedings; the applicant and respondent in financial and children proceedings.
Passive growth
The natural increase in value of non-matrimonial assets.
Paternity testing
Use of DNA testing to ascertain who the father of a child is. This can be ordered by the court.
Pension Sharing Order
An order of the court detailing how a pension should be split between the parties upon divorce.
Periodical payments
A regular payment made from one party to another. Can be in relation to child or spousal maintenance. Also known as: maintenance payments
Perjury
Lying in sworn evidence in court proceedings. Perjury is a serious criminal offence.
Petitioner
The party applying for the divorce. They are called the ‘petitioner’ because they must file a divorce petition with the court in order to start the proceedings.
Post-nuptial agreements
An agreement that spouses enter into after a marriage, which details terms for how their marital assets will be split in the event of a divorce.
Pre-nuptial agreements
An agreement that spouses enter into prior to getting married, which details terms for how their marital assets will be split in the event of a divorce.
Preliminary issue hearing
A special type of hearing designed to deal with a single issue in proceedings. This may be used to deal with a complex issue which is a barrier to settlement between the parties.
Primary carer
The person who has main responsbility for caring for a child.
Private law children
Children proceedings between parents, which do not involve social services.
Pro bono divorce
Lawyers taking on a case and not charging for their work.
Prohibited steps order
An order made by the court in children proceedings which restricts stops one parent from doing a specific act.
Promissory estoppel
The principle that where on person makes a promise, and the other relies on it to their detriment, the promise may be enforceable by law.
Property adjustment order
An order transferring ownership of a property between parties.