Short summaries compiled by Noetava from the pages and Acts named in each one; those are the authority.


How long a divorce takes at minimum in England and Wales, and the two orders (Noetava summary of the GOV.UK guide Get a divorce)

Compiled by Noetava from the GOV.UK guide Get a divorce, so the waiting periods and the names of the orders are stated once in plain words. The GOV.UK guide is the authority.

The two orders: a divorce has two court orders. The conditional order (called a decree nisi if the court issued the divorce application before 6 April 2022) confirms the court sees no reason the marriage cannot end. The final order (called a decree absolute before 6 April 2022) legally ends the marriage. (Get a divorce)

First wait, 20 weeks: you need to wait 20 weeks after your divorce application has been issued by the court before you can apply for a conditional order. (Get a divorce)

Second wait, 6 weeks and 1 day: you need to wait at least 43 days (6 weeks and 1 day) after the conditional order has been granted before you can apply for the final order to finalise the divorce and end the marriage. (Get a divorce)

How long does a divorce take at minimum? Adding the two waits, the minimum is 20 weeks plus 6 weeks and 1 day, about 26 weeks (roughly six months) from the court issuing the application to the final order, if each application is made as soon as it is allowed. Court processing time is on top of that. (Waits from Get a divorce; the total is worked from them)

Time limit for the final order: apply within 12 months of getting the conditional order or decree nisi, otherwise you will have to explain the delay to the court. (Get a divorce)


What a landlord or letting agent can charge a tenant under the Tenant Fees Act 2019: the permitted payments and their caps (Noetava summary of the Act and the How to let guide)

Compiled by Noetava from the Tenant Fees Act 2019 (Schedule 1, permitted payments) and the government's How to let guide for landlords in England, so the list and the caps are stated once in plain words. The Act and the guide are the authority.

What can a letting agent or landlord charge a tenant for under the Tenant Fees Act? Only the permitted payments listed in Schedule 1 of the Tenant Fees Act 2019. Any other payment required from a tenant or guarantor in connection with a tenancy in England is a prohibited payment, whatever it is called. The permitted payments are:

Rent. A payment of rent under a tenancy is a permitted payment. Rent payable before an assured tenancy is entered into is a prohibited payment (from 1 May 2026), and if the rent for an earlier period in the first year is more than the rent for a later period, the extra amount is a prohibited payment, so rent cannot be front-loaded. (Tenant Fees Act 2019, Schedule 1, paragraphs 1 and 1A)

Tenancy deposit, capped. If the tenancy deposit exceeds five weeks' rent where the annual rent is less than £50,000, or six weeks' rent where the annual rent is £50,000 or more, the excess is a prohibited payment. One week's rent means the annual rent divided by 52. (Tenant Fees Act 2019, Schedule 1, paragraph 2; How to let guide)

Holding deposit, capped at one week's rent. If the holding deposit exceeds one week's rent, the excess is a prohibited payment. (Tenant Fees Act 2019, Schedule 1, paragraph 3)

Default fees, only where the tenancy agreement requires them, and only for two defaults. (a) Loss of a key or other security device: the charge is limited to the costs reasonably incurred as a result and supported by evidence in writing given to the tenant. (b) Rent not paid in full within 14 days of the due date: the charge is limited to interest on the unpaid rent at an annual percentage rate of 3% above the Bank of England base rate, for each day the rent remains unpaid. No other late-payment fee is permitted, and a landlord and a letting agent cannot both charge for the same default. (Tenant Fees Act 2019, Schedule 1, paragraph 4)

Damages for breach of the tenancy agreement. (Tenant Fees Act 2019, Schedule 1, paragraph 5)

Payment for a variation, assignment or novation of the tenancy at the tenant's request, for example a change of sharer: capped at the greater of £50 or the reasonable costs of the landlord or letting agent. (Tenant Fees Act 2019, Schedule 1, paragraph 6)

Payment for early termination of the tenancy at the tenant's request: to a landlord, no more than the loss the landlord suffers as a result; to a letting agent, no more than the agent's reasonable costs. (Tenant Fees Act 2019, Schedule 1, paragraph 7)

Payments in respect of council tax, utilities (electricity, gas or other fuel, water or sewerage), a television licence, and communication services (a landline telephone, the internet, cable or similar television services), where the tenancy agreement requires the tenant to pay them. (Tenant Fees Act 2019, Schedule 1, paragraphs 8 to 11)

Penalties: any landlords or letting agents found to be in breach of the Tenant Fees Act are liable for a fine of up to £5,000. If a further breach is committed within five years, they are liable for a fine of up to £30,000 or prosecution. (How to let guide)


Who inherits if someone dies without a will in England and Wales and leaves a spouse or civil partner and children: the fixed net sum of £322,000 (Noetava summary of the Administration of Estates Act 1925 and the Fixed Net Sum Order 2023)

Compiled by Noetava from section 46 of the Administration of Estates Act 1925 and the Administration of Estates Act 1925 (Fixed Net Sum) Order 2023, so the rule and the current figure are stated once in plain words. The Act and the Order are the authority; the GOV.UK "Intestacy: who inherits" tool applies the same rules interactively.

Who inherits if someone dies without a will and leaves a spouse or civil partner and children? Under section 46 of the Administration of Estates Act 1925, where the intestate leaves issue (children or their descendants): (A) the surviving spouse or civil partner takes the personal chattels absolutely; (B) the residuary estate (other than the personal chattels) is charged with the payment of a fixed net sum, free of death duties and costs, to the surviving spouse or civil partner, together with simple interest on it from the date of death until paid; and (C) subject to that sum and interest, the rest of the residuary estate is held as to one half in trust for the surviving spouse or civil partner absolutely, and as to the other half on the statutory trusts for the issue of the intestate. (Administration of Estates Act 1925, section 46(1)(i), case (2) of the Table)

How much is the fixed net sum, also called the statutory legacy? The fixed net sum referred to in paragraph (B) of case (2) of the Table in section 46(1)(i) of the Administration of Estates Act 1925 is £322,000. The Order setting it came into force on 26 July 2023, so £322,000 applies where the death is on or after that date. Earlier deaths were subject to the lower sum that applied at the time. (Administration of Estates Act 1925 (Fixed Net Sum) Order 2023, article 2)

If there is a spouse or civil partner but no children, the surviving spouse or civil partner takes the whole residuary estate absolutely. If there are children but no spouse or civil partner, the residuary estate is held on the statutory trusts for the children. (Administration of Estates Act 1925, section 46(1)(i) case (1) and section 46(1)(ii))