Glossary

The process of taking out legal proceedings/legal action/taking a dispute to the court of law.

This term refers to an individual who presides over a court case but is not legally trained, works part time and is not paid. They are volunteers who can claim expenses. In court there will be a legal adviser present to help them with points of law.

This is the term used when an individual asks the court for consent/permission to take a child abroad when the other parent is making an objection.

A government scheme that will pay the legal fees of an individual claiming benefits or on a low income. Legal Aid is now only available for divorce cases with reference to domestic violence, child protection cases and mediation.

This is the term used to describe the fact that communication between an individual and their legal representative such as a solicitor or barrister are confidential and cannot be divulged to anyone else.

This is when a court will approve the separation of a married couple. There will be a court order detailing the agreements and decisions made during the separation however the couple will still remain legally married. This happens when a couple do not want to or cannot divorce.

This is a court order that is granted so a public body such as the child maintenance service can enforce payment.

A litigant is an individual involved in legal proceedings.

An individual involved in legal proceedings but not represented by a solicitor or barrister.

The term used to refer to the process of starting legal proceedings or taking legal action.

This is a loan taken out though a solicitor to pay for your the legal fees of your divorce. A loan company will provide the loan and the solicitor will withdraw funds to pay for their fees.

This is an individual who helps a child or a protected person in legal proceedings. A protected person is a person who are mentally incapable of making their own decisions and sorting out their own affairs.

This is the word used for submitting/filing documents in court.

This is a court order where one ex-partner must give a lump sum to the other ex-partner. This often happens where the financially stronger ex-partner will give money to the financially weaker ex-partner for legal fees, advice, or mediation. This is often done when the financially weaker ex-partner is not eligible for legal aid. An LSPO can be a one-off payment or paid in instalments, payments can continue for a specified time or deferred payments set for the future. Any payment made under a LSPO order may have to be paid back into the matrimonial pot at the end of financial settlement proceedings.

A lump sum court order is when a judge orders one ex-partner to pay a lump sum of money to the other ex-partner. This can be, for example, when the marital house is transferred to one ex-partner so they can remain in the home. They need to pay a lump sum to the ex-partner moving out for their share of the marital house.