Glossary of terms

A legal right to withhold goods or property until payment is made by a debtor

This sets a maximum on the amount of damages a party may have to pay if there is a failure of some part of the contract

This generally refers to limited companies where the owners' liability to pay the debts of the company is limited to the value of their shares

A Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) is a recognised legal entity by virtue of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2000, which has some features of a limited company and some of a partnership

This refers to the process by which a company (or part of a company) is brought to an end

Legal proceedings

This is a document setting out in advance what types of medical treatment the maker of the will does or does not wish to receive in specific circumstances should he or she be incapable of giving or refusing consent

An enquiry carried out to determine if there are any potential circumstances that could affect property

The process of delivering documents to a court

The cabinet minister who acts as speaker of the House of Lords and oversees the hearings of the Law Lords

Senior judge of the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) who also heads the Queens Bench Division of the High Court of Justice)

Title given to certain judges sitting in the Court of Appeal

This is where a property cannot be used in the normal way for some reason

Order for the payment of a capital sum from one party to another

The system which offers a trademark owner the possibility to have his trademark protected in several countries by simply filing one application directly with his own national or regional trademark office

A civil officer with the power to administer and enforce law in a Magistrates Court

A Court where criminal proceedings are conducted before Justices of the Peace - who either deal with the case themselves or commit to the Crown Court

A sum of money paid by one party to support the other party

A maintenance order for a sum of money made before the final order in proceeding

Senior judge of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal

The process through which separating couples seek to reach an agreement

See Heads of Terms

A document which is required to incorporate a UK company

The intention to commit a crime