Glossary of terms

Cafcass is an organisation that represents children in family court cases in England. It is independent of the courts and social services. In private law proceedings it operates to offer guidance to the court by way of undertaking safeguarding checks and providing an opinion on how a case may be progressed. It will also advise on what orders might be in the best interests of the children concerned. In appropriate cases, a Cafcass officer may be appointed to act as a child's Guardian ad Litem if the child is made a party to the proceedings.

This is a letter making an offer of settlement prior to the case going to hearing, similar to a Part 36 Offer

This is an order which places a child in the care of the local authority

A unique reference number which is allocated to each case

Warning given by a Police Officer

This essentially means "buyer beware" - a principle which still stands in property transaction

This is a document which certifies the legal ownership of land

Offices used by a barrister. Alternatively, a private Court from which the public are excluded in which a Judge may conduct certain hearings

A section of the High Court, divided between Chancery Chambers and Bankruptcy and Companies Court

Security for the payment of a debt upon sale of a property

This is a charge imposed by the court on the debtor's property to secure payment of the sum that is due and also An order directing that a charge be registered at the Land Registry on property owned by a Debtor

This refers to any property except freehold land

Money due from a non-resident parent to the parent with whom the child lives

Circuit judges must be lawyers who have held a 'right of audience' for at least ten years, and must also have served either part-time as a recorder on criminal cases or full-time as district judges on civil cases before they can be appointed.

Matters concerning private rights as opposed to offences against the state

A member of a same-sex couple

Proceedings issued in the County or High Court. Previously known as an Action.

Form on which a Claim is issued (previously known as a Summons).

Person issuing a Claim (previously known as the Plaintiff)

This is where financial matters are agreed by the parties in full and final settlement and there is no ongoing financial arrangement between them either in terms of income or capital

This is a licence for software either downloaded from a website or loaded from disk, where the licence terms are accepted on screen by following a "click to accept" procedure

Software which does not allow its code to be manipulated by end-users

A person joined as a party to proceedings

A codicil is an addition or amendment to an existing will