Petitioner
The parent who files the custody or divorce case.
The petitioner (sometimes called the plaintiff) starts the court case. The other parent is the respondent (or defendant).
Related terms
Where this term shows up in a custody case
Definitions matter most when they hit your order, your schedule, or your evidence.
- Custody and family law glossary
Plain-English definitions of the terms in your order.
- Parenting plan guides by state
Filing venue, required classes, and the terminology each state's courts use.
- Custody schedule patterns explained
2-2-3, 2-2-5-5, week-on/week-off, and every other common rotation.
- Court-ready co-parenting messages
Timestamped, uneditable messaging with per-person read receipts.
- Court-approved co-parenting records
What makes a custody record admissible and how CustodyTrac meets that bar.
- Free co-parenting app for both parents
Shared calendar, messaging, expenses, and court-ready exports at no cost to either household.
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