A plain language guide to the law
Know where you stand, and what to do next.
Guides, checklists, calculators and charts for everyday legal questions, arranged in the order a matter actually unfolds.
General information, not legal advice. Law differs by country, and every page says where it applies.
Layer 02 of 05
Statutes and codes
Laws passed by the legislature, such as a civil code, a labour code or a criminal code. Most everyday questions start here.
Where you meet it: Renting a home, signing a job contract, buying or selling.
Typical order. Names and ranking vary by country.
Guides by stage
Seven stages, the same on every topic.
Pick where you are. Each stage has its own page with a guide, a checklist and the tool that fits.
Stage 01
Name the problem in legal terms and find the area of law that covers it.
Open the Understand pageWhat kind of legal issue is this?
Find the area of law and which stage of law covers it, before anything else.
Facts to write down on day one
Dates, amounts, names, what was said — capture it now while memory is fresh.
Issue finder
Answer a few plain questions to reach the right area and topic.
Areas of law
A library that grows page by page.
Each area opens into topics, and each topic follows the seven stages. New pages slot in without changing the map.
Tools
Work it out here, next to the rule that explains it.
Everything is calculated in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.
Deadline calculator
Last day
Wednesday, 4 November 2026
Counts from the day after the start date. Public holidays are not included. Check the counting rule that applies to you.
Late-payment interest
Interest
19.73
Total now owed
1,019.73
Simple interest on a 365-day year. The rate you may charge is set by your contract or by law.
Charts
See the shape of it before you read the detail.
Four ways to settle a dispute
| Route | Cost | Time | Formality | Who decides |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negotiation | Low | Low | Low | You and the other side |
| Mediation | Medium | Medium | Medium | You both, helped by a neutral mediator |
| Arbitration | Medium | Medium | High | An arbitrator you both chose |
| Court | High | High | High | A judge |
Typical pattern, for orientation only. Real cost and time depend on the country and the case.
The court ladder
Common three-level structure. Court names and extra levels differ by country.
How pages work
Every page shows its sources.
One template for every topic, so you always know where to look and how far to trust what you read.
- Where it applies. The country or region is stated at the top.
- Which rule. Each claim cites the article or section it rests on.
- When it was checked. A review date and reviewer on every page.
- When to get a lawyer. The point where general information stops being enough.
[Topic title, as a question]
1. Short answer
Two or three sentences in plain words.
2. The rule
What the law says, with the citation.
3. Steps and deadlines
What to do, in order, and by when.
4. Documents and tools
Checklist, template and calculator for this stage.
5. Sources and next stage
Links to the official text and to the page that follows.