H

HABITUAL RESIDENCE - the place where a person resides - 'as of habit ' or permanently, for the purposes of the law.

 

HARDSHIP - the inability of a parent to support his or her children because of a financial strain.  Evidence is required to be presented.

 

HEALTH INSURANCE ORDER - a court order that instructs the non - custodial parent to purchase health and dental insurance for the children and to add them to the policy.  This is required in California .

 

HEALTHY FAMILIES a California State sponsored health insurance plan for children where the parents do not have health insurance available.  The cost is very low and is based upon a sliding scale.  Some courts will order the parents to enroll the children in this program if health insurance is otherwise unavailable.

 

HEARING - any proceeding that takes place before a court where testimony is given and arguments are heard.

 

HEARSAY - something a person claims he or she was told by someone else. Often hearsay cannot be used as evidence in a trial.

 

HOLD HARMLESS - a phrase used to describe an agreement by which one person agrees to assume full liability for an obligation and protect another from any loss or expense from that obligation.

 

HOSTILE WITNESS - a witness who shows prejudice during testimony that the party who called him or her will actually do a cross examination