Civil law provides a framework within which people conduct their daily lives, and civil court cases often relate to problems that affect people's basic life opportunities and well-being. This is the 2nd edition of this publication which sets out the key findings of surveys conducted in England and Wales in 2001 and 2004, the most extensive of its kind so far, undertaken to examine people's experiences of civil law problems, including exploring social, economic and health consequences. Issues discussed include: the links between the civil justice system, crime and social exclusion, the relatively infrequent use of formal legal processes, and the obstacles that can prevent problems being resolved.