Understand what civil mediation is, how it works, and whether it might help you solve your legal problem more quickly, cheaply, and easily than going to court. You can use civil mediation to deal with a problem with a product or service that didn’t work, a tradesperson who didn’t complete the agreed job, breach of contract, or when somebody owes you money and is refusing to pay. Or mediation can be helpful if you have been discriminated against by a product or service, or you want compensation because you were injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, or you were treated unfairly at work. Or maybe you are having an argument with the Council over whether you have been given the right help for your child’s special educational needs. You can use mediation before you start legal proceedings or after they have started and before the final hearing.

The information in this guide applies to England and Wales only.
 

Understand the impact of moving in with your partner or stopping living with a partner.  

This information will also help if you are not living with your partner but the benefits office or DWP believe you are, or if you want your romantic partner to stay sometimes but you don’t want to break the rules and risk losing benefit. 

We also explain the rules if you have split up with your partner but are still living in the same home because you can't afford to move out. And the effect on your benefits of family or friends moving in with you. 

We want to help you avoid all the stress and difficulty that problems with your benefits, or accusations that you have done something wrong, cause. 

The information in this guide applies in England and Wales.

This guide is about dispute resolution and the ways you can use it to sort out a legal problem before or instead of going to court. It explains what your other options might be and how to use them effectively, including how to complain, negotiate, use mediation or arbitration services, or complain to an Ombudsman. This is called alternative dispute resolution.

The information in this guide applies to England and Wales.
 

If you are taking someone to court over money you need to make sure that they can pay you if you win. Understand the things you can do to check before you go to all the bother and expense of starting legal proceedings. This guide is part of series about taking someone to the civil court to sort out a problem or disagreement. It will help for any kind of money claim case about a broken contract (often called 'breach of contract'), money owed, compensation, and personal injury, including if you were hurt in a road traffic accident.

The information in this guide applies to England and Wales only.

This guide is the first in a series about how to take someone to court to sort out a problem or disagreement. You can take someone to the civil court about broken contracts (often called ‘breach of contract’), money owed, compensation, and personal injury - including those caused by road traffic accidents or accidents at work. You might take someone to the small claims court, or use the fast-track process in a county court. This guide will take you through ten key questions to help you decide whether you should take someone to court or not.

The information in this guide applies to England and Wales only.  

Understand what evidence you will need if you are taking someone to court, why you need it, and what you need to do with it. This guide is part of series about taking someone to the civil court to sort out a problem or disagreement. 

You can make a civil claim about money owed, broken contracts (often called ‘a breach of contract’), compensation, and personal injury - including road traffic accidents and workers compensation. You might take someone to the small claims court, or use the fast-track process in a county court.

The information in this guide applies to England and Wales only.