Glossary of terms

Statutory Sick Pay

A charge applicable to a conveyance, transfer or a lease of land where the instrument was executed prior to 1 December 2003

Some forms of employment require a Criminal Record Certificate, which will provide details of spent convictions and of cautions as well as of unspent convictions

Written account of an incident by a witness

This is a form of financial statement setting out the debtor's assets and liabilities

A form setting out the details of arrangements for the children after the divorce

An Act of Parliament

Secondary (or delegated) legislation

To suspend Court action

An order following which judgment cannot be enforced without leave of the court

A legally qualified and salaried Magistrate (now known as District Judge)

Where a court prevents all further proceedings in a case if a party fails to comply with a rule, practice direction or court order

The renting of a property by a tenant

Words used on documents exchanged by parties during contract negotiations, denoting that the document is not an offer or acceptance and negotiations have not concluded

A summons issued to a person directing their attendance in Court to give evidence

A company which owns less than 50% of its own voting rights

Legal proceedings commenced by petition

Person bringing a suit before the Courts

Where the question of costs is dealt with at the conclusion of the hearing

This occurs when an employee is dismissed without notice or prior warnings due to gross misconduct

Judgment obtained by a plaintiff where there is no defence to the case or the defence contains no valid grounds

A criminal offence which is triable only by a Magistrates Court

A review of the evidence and directions as to the law by a judge immediately before a jury retires to consider its verdict

Order to appear or to produce evidence to a Court (also the old name for a claim form)