Legal Jargon

The document filed by the claimant in order to respond to issues raised by the defendant in a Defence and/or Counterclaim.

A repudiatory breach is a significant breach of contract which goes to the core of the contract and potentially deprives the other party its benefit. It gives the innocent party the right to treat the contract as disregarded and entitles the innoncent party to refuse to be bound to its terms.

A PPO is an order from the court that stating that the defendant, rather than handing over compensation as a lump sum, should pay an annual amount, frequently in addition to an initial lump sum, to the claimant for the duration of their natural life.

General term for Court documentation.

A general direction or supplemental protocol laid down in the Civil Procedure Rules, or issued by a Court or judge, to explain how a rule should be interpreted and to outline what the parties are required to do in order to comply with that rule.

A supplemental protocol to rules of civil and criminal procedure in the courts – “a device to regulate minor procedural matters” – and is “an official announcement by the court laying down rules as to how it should function.”

A hearing to decide a point of procedure or a specific issue that goes fundamentally to the heart of the claim or a defence.

A Latin term that means “at first appearance” or “on the face of it”. In civil and criminal law it is used to say that at first look, and without any further investigation, there is sufficient evidence to support a case. In practice, is it used to justify a decision to pursue a case or, in if there is no prima facie evidence, to either dismiss the case or investigate more closely.

Someone who has not yet reached the age when they have full legal rights and responsibilities. In the UK this is the age of 18 years. Up until the age of 18, a minor would need a Litigation Friend to act on their behalf. Usually this is the child’s parent.

A court order whereby a property is ordered to be placed on the market for sale, usually with specified terms such as within a defined time period. Orders for sale are typically used to enforce the sale of a property to release funds, either to settle a debt to a creditor or to meet the terms of a post-divorce financial settlement.