M

MAINTENANCE - the same as spousal support or alimony.

 

MARITAL PROPERTY - property that is acquired by the spouses during the marriage. It typically does not include any property owned prior to marriage.

 

MARITAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT - a written agreement entered into by the spouses getting divorced stating their rights and agreements pertaining to property, support and custody.

 

MARKETABLE TITLE - a title not subject to reasonable doubt or suspicion of invalidity in the mind of a reasonable and intelligent person: one which a prudent person guided by competent legal advice would be willing to accept and purchase at market value.

 

MEDIATION - a non - adversarial divorce procedure where the spouses are assisted in reaching a settlement by a neutral third party that is trained in the divorce process.  Mediation is required prior to any court hearing regarding issues of child custody or visitation in the state of California .

 

MEDIATOR - a neutral person who presides over the mediation process.

 

MILITARY ALLOTMENT - a deduction from child support from the salary of a noncustodial parent on active duty in the United States military.

 

MINUTE ORDER - an official record of a court proceeding. It is prepared by the court clerk and is not a judgment, however, in some counties within California , it may be a court order.  You must refer to local rules in the county in which your proceeding is pending.

 

MISTRIAL - a trial that is terminated due to some kind of error that would declare the trial invalid.

 

MODIFICATION - an order changing the terms of another order.

 

MOTION - a written or oral request to the court for some type of action.

 

MOTION TO MODIFY - a written request of the court to change a previous order regarding child custody, support, alimony or other divorce - related decisions.