LEGAL WORDS, PLAIN ENGLISH
Legal terms, explained.
Understand the words behind your legal questions.
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All legal terms
62 terms
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1975 Act claim
England and Wales
A claim by an eligible person for reasonable financial provision from an estate under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
Abandonment
Scotland
Giving up a civil case or an appeal.
Account of profits
England and Wales
A remedy requiring someone to account for gains improperly received, for example through breaching duties owed in a fiduciary relationship.
Acknowledgment of service
England and Wales
A formal response confirming that court documents have been received.
Adjournment
England and Wales
Postponing a hearing or another step in proceedings.
Advocate
Scotland
A lawyer belonging to the Scottish Bar.
Affidavit
England and Wales
A written account of facts whose maker swears that it is true.
Agent
General term
A person authorised to act for another.
Aliment
Scotland
Legally enforceable financial support for a spouse or child.
Allegation
General term
An assertion about someone that may still need to be proved.
Applicant
England and Wales
The person asking a court to make an order.
Arbitration
England and Wales
Resolving a dispute by appointing an independent decision-maker.
Assets
General term
Money, property and other items of value that someone owns.
Asylum
United Kingdom
Protection sought by someone unable to return to their country because they fear persecution. An asylum application asks the UK to recognise that need.
Avizandum
Scotland
A judge takes time to consider a case before announcing the decision.
Bail
Northern Ireland
Release from custody while a case continues, subject to any conditions imposed. A recognisance may require payment if those conditions are broken.
Beneficiary
General term
Someone entitled to receive a benefit from a will or trust.
Bequest
General term
A gift left through a will.
Chattels
General term
Moveable personal possessions.
Child arrangements order
England and Wales
A court order governing arrangements for a child.
Claimant
England and Wales
The individual or organisation bringing a claim.
Cohabitation
General term
Living as a couple without marriage or civil partnership.
Conditional order
England and Wales
A divorce-stage order confirming the court sees no reason the divorce cannot proceed. The marriage continues until the final order.
Consent order (divorce finances)
England and Wales
A court-approved order that gives legal force to an agreed financial settlement. Agreement between the couple alone does not make it a court order.
Conveyancing
General term
Legal work involved in transferring property ownership or arranging a remortgage.
COT3
Great Britain
An agreement recording a legally binding settlement reached through Acas conciliation.
Creditor
General term
A person or business waiting to be repaid money owed to them.
Damages
General term
Money awarded to compensate for a legally recognised loss or injury.
Decree
Scotland
A court’s final judgment.
Decree absolute
England and Wales
The divorce order that ends a marriage in cases issued before 6 April 2022. Newer divorce cases use the term final order.
Decree nisi
England and Wales
The earlier divorce-stage order used for cases issued before 6 April 2022. It does not itself end the marriage. See conditional order.
Defender
Scotland
The party defending a civil action brought by a pursuer.
Diet
Scotland
A date set by a Scottish court for a hearing.
Directions
England and Wales
Court instructions setting out what must happen next and when.
Disclosure
England and Wales
Providing relevant documents or information to the other party in a case.
Dissolution
England and Wales
The legal ending of a civil partnership.
Early conciliation
Great Britain
An Acas process that helps parties try to settle an employment dispute before a tribunal claim. Participation in the talks is voluntary.
Evidence
General term
Material used to establish or challenge the facts.
Executor
England and Wales
A person appointed by a will to administer the deceased’s estate. Where probate is needed, the executor applies for it.
Final order
England and Wales
The order that legally ends a marriage in the current divorce process. Financial arrangements may need a separate order.
Indefinite leave to remain (ILR)
United Kingdom
Immigration permission to settle in the UK without a time limit on your stay. Also called settlement; it is different from British citizenship.
Interdict
Scotland
A court order prohibiting a person from carrying out a particular act.
Interlocutor
Scotland
A formal court order recording a decision in proceedings.
Intestate
General term
Describes someone who dies without a valid will.
Jurisdiction
General term
A court’s authority to decide a particular matter.
Lasting power of attorney (LPA)
England and Wales
A document appointing someone to help make decisions, or make them on your behalf, about finances or health and care. Different arrangements apply elsewhere in the UK.
Legal aid
England and Wales
Public funding towards eligible legal advice or representation. Entitlement depends on the case and applicable rules; Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate systems.
Liable
General term
Legally responsible for something.
Litigant in person
England and Wales
Someone who conducts their court case without a lawyer representing them. They may still seek advice or practical support.
Litigation
General term
Dealing with a dispute through court proceedings.
Probate
England and Wales
Legal authority to deal with a deceased person’s estate. It is not needed for every estate; Scotland uses a different process called confirmation.
Pursuer
Scotland
The person bringing a civil action.
Recognisance
Northern Ireland
A formal bond with the court, which can include a promise to pay money if bail conditions are broken.
Redundancy
Great Britain
A dismissal arising because an employer no longer needs a role. A fair process and relevant employment rights still apply.
Refugee status
United Kingdom
Formal recognition that a person qualifies for protection under the Refugee Convention. It is one possible outcome of a successful asylum claim.
Remand in custody
Northern Ireland
Keeping a defendant in prison while they await a further court appearance.
Respondent
England and Wales
The person responding to a court application.
Service
England and Wales
Formally delivering legal documents to a party or their representative.
Settlement agreement (employment)
Great Britain
A binding written agreement resolving specified employment claims. Legal conditions apply, including independent advice for the worker. It was formerly called a compromise agreement.
Sist
Scotland
In proceedings, a pause or suspension of the case. The word also has other procedural uses.
Undertaking
England and Wales
A binding promise to a court; breaking it can lead to penalties.
Will
General term
A document stating how someone wants their estate dealt with after death.
A note on UK legal terminology
The UK has separate legal systems in England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Labels show the context covered by each entry. “General term” describes a broad meaning, not a rule that works identically everywhere. Great Britain means England, Wales and Scotland.
These short explanations provide general information. Seek advice about your own situation. This is a selected glossary, not a complete legal dictionary.
About this glossary
We publish general legal information to help readers understand common issues. It is not a substitute for advice about your circumstances.