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  • Financial proceedings relating to property, money and pensions within divorce, civil partnership dissolution or Judicial separation.

  • The terms of agreement in relation to the finances between spouses or civil partners usually following a divorce or dissolution.

  • A hearing when the court decides whether or not certain facts are proven on the balance of probabilities e.g. whether or not domestic violence has occurred.

  • A standard form where the seller sets out all those items in the property which they have agreed to leave as part of the sale price and which is attached to the contract.

  • A fixed-term contract is one which either:

    • lasts for a specified time, set in advance;
    • ends with the completion of a specified task;
    • ends when a specified event does or does not take place.

    Unless there are special circumstances that can be justified, fixed-term employees must be treated in the same way as comparable permanent employees.

  • This arises when part of one property is built on top of part of another, and so the upper property owner does not own the building or land underneath the “flying” part.

  • A lengthy pre-printed form which you may have to complete if there are financial proceedings or used voluntarily as part of the financial disclosure process.

  • A layman’s term for an Injunction Order made pursuant to S37 Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. It will stop a party from disposing of money or assets pending a final decision being made by the court about distribution of that money or assets.

  • This term is normally used to refer to the method by which a solicitor’s costs are to be paid. For example, funding by a conditional fee agreement or by legal expenses insurance.

  • Claims for damages are normally calculated in relation to those losses and expenses that occurred up to the time of the settlement of the claim or trial, and those that will occur after that date. The latter losses and expenses are referred to as the future loss. This may typically include claims for future loss of income and the cost of future care and accommodation.

  • Future loss of earnings are often included in a claimant’s schedule of loss if their claim includes dismissal.

    Although there is nothing preventing a claimant from claiming one year’s loss of earnings, tribunals often limit future losses to a maximum of six months future loss of earnings and in any event, the claimant must always show that they have made efforts to mitigate their losses by trying to find alternative employment.

  • Garden leave is the term given to a situation whereby an employee is required to serve out a period of notice at home.

    During this period the employee continues to receive all salary and benefits but is prohibited from commencing employment with new employers until the gardening leave period has expired.

  • A term used to refer to a child being of sufficient age, understanding and maturity to give the court their own views, and to act independently of any adult – typically a teenager over the age of 13/14.

  • A legal document which confirms an executor's authority to administer the deceased's estate.

  • A legal document which confirms a person's authority, as an executor or administrator, to administer the deceased's estate.
    Grant of Probate = where there is a will.
    Grant of Letters of administration = where there is no will.

  • Put simply, a grievance is a complaint.

    If an employee is having a problem at work, is concerned about an issue that has arisen at work, or wishes to make a complaint about a colleague or a manager, then they can raise a “grievance”.

    Employers should have formal grievance procedures in place to address the handling of such complaints.

  • Conduct so serious as to justify summary dismissal of an employee.

    Acts deemed to be classed as gross misconduct are often listed in an employer’s disciplinary procedure and can include theft, fighting, serious negligence, breaches of health and safety indecent behaviour, dishonesty and offensive behaviour.

  • This is paid by a lessee to a lessor where a property is leasehold and is usually expressed as a yearly sum.