Which term is the beginning part of a family court caption?

• A. In the matter of
• B. Minor
• C. Motion
• D. Oath

Answer: (A)

The beginning of a family court caption uses the phrase “In the matter of” to signal that the proceeding is a formal matter concerning a specific person or issue. This opening sets the scope of the case and introduces the subject, such as a child or family matter, that the court is addressing. In the matter of is the standard, recognized way to start the caption, providing a formal lead-in before naming the subject (for example, the child’s name followed by a descriptor like “a child”). The other terms don’t serve this opening function: “Minor” is a descriptor that may appear later, “Motion” is a document type, and “Oath” is unrelated to how captions start.