Legal Jargon

Where some or all of one party’s pension is given to the other party as a pension in their own right.

In practical terms, peppercorn rent means the leaseholder pays zero ground rent to the freeholder. All new residential leaseholders are created with peppercorn rent. The phrase originates from the concept that a leaseholder would pay a nominal rent to the freehold owner in acknowledgement of their continuing right over the property in the sum of a single peppercorn – the type that you would usually grind up in a pepper mill.

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.

The term fast-track applies to straightforward claims where the maximum value is £25,000 or under and which can be usually be dealt with in a one-day trial. In practice, this applies to most personal injury claims i.e. accidents that have had a significant impact on your life but from which you can make a recover. However, some cases that fall within this claims limit may not be treated as fast track because they are too complex.

Multi-track claims are more complicated and complex personal injury cases, where the injuries are significant and potentially long-term, with damages valued at more than £25,000.

The portal is a secure, online electronic systems for processing personal injury claims up to the value of £25,000.

A court that oversees personal injury cases that are likely to have a value of less than £1,000.

A personal injury trust can be set up to hold and manage a person’s damages to ensure that this money is not taken into account for assessment of means-tested benefits or care contributions.

An agreed place where police can take someone to be assessed. This is usually a hospital or, in an emergency, a police station.

Approval by the planning authority to the construction, and extension or alteration of a property, or a change of its use, for example from commercial to residential.

General term for Court documentation.

Possessory title is a class of legal title given by the Land Registry where absolute legal title evidence is not available, for instance if the original title deeds have been lost or destroyed or the land has been claimed.

A way of giving permission to someone, either temporarily or for the rest of your life, to make decisions and act on your behalf in relation to your personal affairs, usually relating to financial and/or health and welfare matters. Actions taken by your attorney are legally binding and you should therefore take legal advice before granting power of attorney.

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.

The section of the petition where the petitioner asks the court to end the marriage, possibly asks for a costs order, and gives notice to the court that the petitioner may wish to bring financial proceedings in the future.

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.

A road which is not an adopted highway and therefore not maintained at public expense. Property owners adjoining a private road need to have particular, and preferably documented, rights known as easements over it as it is not necessarily a road that offers public access.

Is a member of the hospital staff who collects and keeps section papers safe, ensures that procedures are followed, including making sure that patients receive relevant information, and arranges Tribunal hearings and managers reviews.