Introduction. About This Book. Conventions Used in This Book. Foolish Assumptions. How This Book Is Organised. Part I: Living with the Legal System. Part II: Keeping on the Right Side of Family and Friends. Part III: Making Enough to Live On - Legally! Part IV: Spending Your Hard-Earned Cash.
Part V: Getting Out and About. Part VI: The Part of Tens. Icons Used in This Book. Where to Go from Here. Part I: Living with the Legal System. Chapter 1: Unravelling the Legal Web. Untangling the Legal System. Legal differences throughout the UK.
Constitution, Acts of Parliaments, and common law. Outside influences. Bylaws. Understanding How the Courts Work. The criminal courts. The civil courts. Tribunals. The rest.
Knowing Who's Who: The Lawyers. Magistrates. Solicitors. Barristers. QCs. Judges. Jury. Dealing with Crime.
Police powers. Crime and punishment. Criminal records. Prisoners' rights. Victims of crime. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. Taking a Case through the Civil Courts. Making a small claim.
Claiming larger compensation. Claiming for personal injury. Using a tribunal to get justice. Using Alternatives to the Courts. Claiming Help with Legal Costs. Complaining about Professional Negligence. Chapter 2: Living as a Citizen. Citizenship and You: It's Not a Birth Right Anymore.
Coming to Live in the UK. Being domiciled in the UK. Residing in the UK. Getting permission to come into the UK. Seeking asylum. Applying for Citizenship. Taking Part in the UK's Democratic Process. Getting onto the electoral register.
Voting. Protecting Your Human Rights. The right to demonstrate. Freedom of speech. The right to have your personal data protected. The right to have access to information. The right to work. The right to a home.
The right to medical treatment. The right to an education. Out and About. Getting a passport. Going abroad. Emigrating. Chapter 3: Keeping a Roof Over Your Head. Renting.
Local authority property. Housing association property. Private property. Getting repairs done. Your responsibilities. Avoiding eviction. Transferring a tenancy. The right to buy.
Buying Property. Buying freehold. Buying leasehold. Getting a mortgage. Buying property by yourself. Buying property with others. Understanding the buying process. Splitting the Property.
Parting Ways with a Property. Seller's information packs. Transferring ownership. Squatting. Chapter 4: Dealing with Neighbours. Being a Good Neighbour. Keeping the noise down. Smelling of roses.
Respecting boundaries. Keeping animals. Dealing with pests. Dumping rubbish. Rights-of-way. Parking. Putting aside the differences. Being a Good Home Owner.
Improving your home. Keeping your home in good repair. Keeping visitors safe. Getting Insurance. Chapter 5: Using Public Services. Calling the Emergency Services. Using the NHS. Seeing the GP.
Being referred to a specialist. Going to accident and emergency. Going to hospital. Consenting to treatment. Handling mental health problems. Receiving private treatment. Complaining about your treatment. Dealing with medical accidents.
Claiming clinical negligence. Using the Education System. Stating the case: The state system. Teaching the kids at home. Educating Rita - privately. Taking education to a higher level. Using Local Authority Services. Part II: Keeping on the Right Side of Family and Friends.
Chapter 6: Managing Relationships. Living Together. How cohabitation changes things. Common law marriages. Being pa.