Glossary of terms by letter
S
SMP
Statutory Maternity Pay
Sole Trader
A sole trader operates as an individual without the use of a company structure or partners and has sole responsibility for the actions of the business
Solicitor
Member of the legal profession chiefly concerned with advising clients and preparing their cases and representing them in some Courts
Source Code
This refers to a sequence of statements or declarations written in some human-readable computer programming language
Special Guardianship Order
An order which gives the holder parental responsibility for a child and which allows them to use that to the exclusion of any other person with parental responsibility
Specified Claim
A type of claim which is issued for a fixed amount of money allegedly owing. Previously known as a liquidated claim
Squatter
A person occupying land or property without the owners consent
SSP
Statutory Sick Pay
Stamp Duty
A charge applicable to a conveyance, transfer or a lease of land where the instrument was executed prior to 1 December 2003
Standard Disclosure
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
Statement
Written account of an incident by a witness
Statement of Affairs
This is a form of financial statement setting out the debtor's assets and liabilities
Statement of Arrangements
A form setting out the details of arrangements for the children after the divorce
Statute
An Act of Parliament
Statutory Instrument
Secondary (or delegated) legislation
Stay
To suspend Court action
Stay of Execution
An order following which judgment cannot be enforced without leave of the court
Stipendiary Magistrate
A legally qualified and salaried Magistrate (now known as District Judge)
Striking Out
Where a court prevents all further proceedings in a case if a party fails to comply with a rule, practice direction or court order
Sub-Letting
The renting of a property by a tenant
Subject to Contract
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
Subpoena
A summons issued to a person directing their attendance in Court to give evidence
Subsidiary Company
A company which owns less than 50% of its own voting rights
Suit
Legal proceedings commenced by petition
