‘Multidisciplinary’ refers to when professionals from different disciplines (such as social work, nursing and occupational therapy etc) work together to assess and/or address the holistic needs of an individual, in order to improve the delivery of their care. In the context of assessing eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare, a multidisciplinary team (MDT) is a team of at least two professionals, usually from both the health and the social care disciplines.

The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) is a five-step screening tool used to identify adults who are malnourished, at risk of malnutrition, or obese, to enable a care plan to be developed.

A situation where the amount of money you owe on the mortgage on the property is more than the sale price.

A breach of the common law duty of care will often be an act of negligence. For example, if you drive on the road in a dangerous manner that will be considered negligent. Such action will only give rise to a claim for damages if, as a result of that negligence, somebody is hurt. There must be a clear link between the negligent behaviour and the injury.

The engagement in discussions between parties in an attempt to resolve disputes that have arisen.

Document devised by the Department of Health and Social Care and used as a low-level screening tool to determine if an individual should receive a full assessment of their eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare. It should be completed by a health or social care professional.

NHS England is the name given to what is legally known as the National Health Service Commissioning Board. NHS England convenes Independent Review Panels to review Continuing Healthcare eligibility decisions by ICBs, once the appeals process has been exhausted at local level with the ICB.

Funding provided by the NHS to care homes with nursing, to support the provision of nursing care by a registered nurse for those assessed as eligible. It exists because Section 22 of the Care Act 2014 prohibits local authorities from providing or arranging for the provision of nursing care by a registered nurse, save in the very limited circumstances set out in Section 22 (4). In all cases, individuals should be considered for eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare before a decision is reached about the need for NHS-funded Nursing Care.

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Decree Nisi has been replaced by a Conditional Order.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.