Guides

Plain law, step by step.

Each guide follows the order a legal matter actually unfolds — from understanding your statutory rights and gathering evidence, through sending a formal notice and issuing a court claim, to enforcing a judgment. Areas covered: consumer rights and faulty goods, tenancy agreements and deposits, redundancy pay, unfair dismissal, and debt recovery. Every step cites the statute behind it.

Browse by area

01

Housing and tenancy

Leases, deposits, repairs, eviction, neighbours.

02

Work and employment

Contracts, pay, dismissal, leave, safety.

03

Family

Marriage, divorce, children, maintenance.

04

Consumer and purchases

Faulty goods, refunds, warranties, online orders.

05

Business and contracts

Starting a company, agreements, unpaid invoices.

06

Money and debt

Loans, guarantees, collection, insolvency.

07

Traffic and vehicles

Fines, accidents, insurance, licences.

08

Property and inheritance

Buying land, registration, wills, succession.

How guides are organised

Every guide belongs to one of seven stages. The stage tells you where in the process the guide sits — not what area of law it covers. Whether you are checking a limitation period before it expires, calculating statutory redundancy pay, or understanding a section 8 notice, each guide slots into the stage that matches where you are right now.

  1. 01
    Understand Name the problem in legal terms and find the area of law that covers it.
  2. 02
    Rights What the law provides: your rights, duties, limits and the rule behind each.
  3. 03
    Evidence Facts to write down on day one — documents, photographs, dates, witnesses.
  4. 04
    Notice A formal written notice is usually required before you can escalate the matter.
  5. 05
    Resolve Negotiation, mediation and arbitration — options before going to court.
  6. 06
    File How to start a court claim: forms, deadlines, fees and what to expect.
  7. 07
    Enforce Turning a judgment into payment: enforcement methods and interest.

FAQ

Common questions

How are guides organised?
Guides follow seven stages that reflect the typical lifecycle of a legal matter — from understanding the problem through to enforcement. Within each stage, guides are grouped by area of law. The structure mirrors the approach set out in the Civil Procedure Rules, which organise civil proceedings in a similar step-by-step order.
What are my consumer rights for faulty goods?
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods bought from a trader must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described. If they are not, you have the short-term right to reject within 30 days for a full refund. After 30 days you are entitled to one repair or replacement attempt; if that fails, you can claim a final refund. These are statutory rights — a retailer's own policy cannot reduce them. See our faulty goods step-by-step guide for the full process and Citizens Advice for additional guidance.
What is the limitation period for a contract claim?
Under the Limitation Act 1980, the limitation period (statute of limitations) for most contract claims in England and Wales is six years from the date of the breach — not the date you discover it. For personal injury it is three years. For claims under a deed it is twelve years. Once the period expires, the court will not hear the claim. You can use LawTheGuide's deadline calculator to count the days, but always check the specific limitation rule for your type of claim.
How do I make a court claim for money owed?
Before issuing a claim you must send a letter before action giving the other party at least 14 days to pay. If they do not, you can issue a money claim online using the Money Claim Online (MCOL) service on GOV.UK. Claims up to £10,000 are allocated to the small claims track — no solicitor needed. Court fees start at £35 for claims up to £300. If you win, the fee is usually added to the judgment. See our county court money claim guide for the full step-by-step process.
What rights do I have if I am made redundant?
If you have been employed for two or more years, you are entitled to statutory redundancy pay under the Employment Rights Act 1996. The amount depends on your age, weekly pay (capped at £643 from April 2026), and years of service. You are also entitled to your full notice period, accrued holiday pay, and a right to a consultation. You must start an ACAS Early Conciliation notification within three months of your dismissal date if you want to challenge the process at tribunal. Use GOV.UK's redundancy pay calculator to estimate your entitlement.
Can I rely on these guides in my case?
Guides give general legal information — they explain what the law says in broad terms. They are not advice on your individual situation. For advice on your own case, use the Law Society's Find a Solicitor or contact Citizens Advice for free guidance.
Which jurisdiction do the guides cover?
All guides currently cover England and Wales only. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate legal systems. For Scotland, mygov.scot offers official guidance; for Northern Ireland, nidirect.gov.uk. The applicable jurisdiction is stated at the top of every guide page.
How do I know the guides are up to date?
Every guide shows a "Reviewed on" date and a "Law as of" date. We monitor the official legislation.gov.uk changes feed and update guides when cited statutes are amended. Guides older than 12 months display a warning banner.
How do I find out if the law in a guide is under review or likely to change?
The Law Commission publishes its current programme of law reform for England and Wales — a useful first check for whether an area is under active review. Bills currently before Parliament are tracked on Parliament.uk. The articles section of LawTheGuide includes a law changes tracker showing the status of significant changes from proposal to in-force.
Are there employment law guides that cover international standards?
LawTheGuide guides cover England and Wales domestic law. Many employment rights derive from or align with ILO international labour standards ratified by the UK — such as minimum wage, working time limits, and freedom of association. For workplace disputes, ACAS is the authoritative UK source for conciliation and employment rights. The Equality and Human Rights Commission covers discrimination rights under the Equality Act 2010.