Glossary

  • ACAS

    Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration...

  • Abandonware

    Software which is no longer being maintained, released or supported by the...

  • Abet

    To counsel, procure or command someone to commit a...

  • Absolute Discharge

    This is when a court takes no further action against an offender, although their offence and discharge will appear on their criminal...

  • Absolute Interest

    The entitlement to the item of property which is not limited by any other person’s...

  • Abstract of Title

    This is a summary of all legal documents which relate to a...

  • Abuse of Process

    This is "something so unfair and wrong that the court should not allow a prosecutor to proceed with what is in all other respect a regular proceeding" (Hui Chi-Ming v...

  • Acceptance

    The unconditional agreement to an...

  • Accused

    The person who has allegedly committed a criminal...

  • Acknowledgement of service

    This must be filed by a defendant if they are unable to file their defence within a specified period or if they wish to dispute the jurisdiction of a...

  • Acoustic Shock

    This is where a sudden burst of sound can temporarily or even permanently damage the eardrum and cause excruciating...

  • Acquisition

    This is the purchase of one company by another without a merger...

  • Acquittal

    The discharge of a defendant following a verdict or direction of "not...

  • Act

    Act of Parliament - primary legislation enacted by...

  • Action

    Proceedings issued in the County or High Court. (Now known as...

  • Actus Reus

    The act of committing a...

  • Address for Service

    This is where one party will accept the delivery or service of legal...

  • Adjournment

    The temporary suspension of the hearing of a...

  • Adjudication

    Judgment or decision in a...

  • Administration order

    This is a court order which requires a debtor to pay money to the court, which then distributes it amongst any...

  • Administrative Court

    Part of the High Court which deals with Judicial...

  • Administrator

    A person appointed by the Court to manage the estate of a deceased...

  • Admissible

    (Evidence) which is allowed to be used in a...

  • Adoption Order

    The court order when a child is...

  • Adversarial

    The system of justice used in British courts for trying to get at the truth, based upon argument between two...

  • Adverse Possession

    This is the process which results in the acquisition of legal title of land, without actually paying for...

  • Advocate

    Someone (generally a Barrister or Solicitor) who represents a party in a Court...

  • Affidavit

    A written statement which is confirmed on oath or by...

  • Affirm

    Alternative to swearing a document on oath to promise that it is...

  • Agency Agreement

    This is an agreement which allows one party (the Agent) to sell products (goods or services) on behalf of another (the Principal) in return for commission...

  • Agent

    Someone who is appointed to act on behalf of another party, the...

  • Allocation questionnaire

    This is issued to all parties after a defence has been filed, and is used to decide which track the case will be allocated...

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

    This is the collective term for the ways in which parties can settle civil disputes without the need for a formal court...

  • Ambulatory Will

    A will which can still be changed because the settlor is...

  • Annual General Meeting (AGM)

    A company must hold a meeting of shareholders once each calendar...
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