The threshold below which an asset is subject to no Inheritance tax.

Decree Nisi has been replaced by a Conditional Order. Decree Nisi was a certificate which was issued by the court part way through your divorce. One of the parties then applied for a decree absolute (now known as a Final Order) which will formally end the marriage.

A general term which can be applied to all types of conditional fee or contingency fee agreements.

See conditional fee agreement.

Assets brought into the marriage by one spouse only are often referred to as non-matrimonial property e.g an inheritance, a gift received during the marriage or shares in a family business.

Given by whichever party is bringing the employment relationship to an end. Notice periods can be either statutory or contractual. An employer must give at least the statutory minimum period of notice, which is calculated from the length of employment.

Court proceedings to end your contract of marriage as a void, or voidable marriage e.g. failure to consummate marriage.

To take the oath means to swear to the truth of what is written by you, or said by you, on either the bible or other religious book of your faith i.e. “I swear by Almighty God that this is my name and handwriting and the contents of this statement are true”.

An Order of the Court granting you the right to occupy a property to the exclusion of your partner/co-owner of the property.

Any person who lives at the property but will not be signing the mortgage deed will be asked to consent to the mortgage being taken out and agree to move out if the mortgagee takes possession due to the default of the mortgage

When an advisor is assisting you behind the scenes, but will not communicate with the other party and/or represent you at a hearing.

The person who has committed an offence.

OPG. The government body which oversees attorneys and deputies – it registers LPAs, and assists and monitors attorneys and deputies.

These are official copies of the Land Registers sent to the buyer’s solicitors to prove the seller’s title to the property.

Your advisor is officially representing you. They are likely to write and receive letters on your behalf and represent you at any hearings (unless they have specifically stated otherwise).

Notices given by the employment tribunal instructing one or both parties to do certain tasks, or advise of key dates in relation to the case.

PILON stands for Pay In Lieu of Notice. Instead of placing an employee on gardening leave or making them work their notice, an employer can end the contract of employment earlier by making a payment to the employee that is equivalent to the amount they would have received had they worked their notice.

Word often used by lawyers, referring to the details of a claim or defence.