Keeping abreast of the laws of the land in Victorian Britain could be complicated. New acts of legislation came into effect every year; these were often summarized in The Illustrated London Almanack. This almanack also provided details about the various stamp duties, licenses, and fees that one might be expected to pay in the city of London - including dog licenses, fees for horses and carriages, fees to operate a barrow or stall, and many others. During the 19th century, several major changes to British law took place, including reforms to the poor laws and the corn bill (which affected the cost of bread). Perhaps one of the most significant changes was the Married Women's Property Act of 1882, which, for the first time, recognized a married woman as being a separate "entity" from her husband and entitled to retain her own money, property, and earnings. Prior to this point, any money that a woman had before marriage became her husband's property, as did anything she earned subsequent to her marriage.

Public Acts of Parliament 1845-1887 (Illustrated London Almanack, 1846-1888)

Under various titles, this series provides a summary of Public Acts of Parliament issued in the preceding year.

1846 • 1847 • 1852 • 1853 • 1854 • 1855 • 1856 • 1857 • 1859 • 1861 • 1862 • 1863 • 1864 • 1865 • 1866 • 1867 • 1868 • 1869 • 1870 • 1871 • 1872 • 1873 • 1874 • 1875 • 1876 • 1877 • 1878 • 1879 • 1880 • 1881 • 1882 • 1883 • 1884 • 1885 • 1886 • 1887 • 1888

Stamps and Other Government Duties 1845-1887 (Illustrated London Almanack, 1845-1887)

This series provides the current rates of stamp duties and various other duties and licenses, including dog licenses, horse taxes, duties on carriages, house taxes and more.

1845 • 1846 • 1847 • 1848 • 1851 • 1852 • 1853 • 1854 • 1855 • 1857 • 1858 • 1860 • 1861 • 1862 • 1863 • 1864 • 1865 • 1866 • 1867 • 1868 • 1869 • 1870 • 1871 • 1872 • 1873 • 1874 • 1875 • 1876 • 1877 • 1878 • 1879 • 1880 • 1881 • 1882 • 1883 • 1884 • 1885 • 1886 • 1887

Abstract of the Wills Act (Illustrated London Almanack, 1845)

An act intended to simplify the process of wills and inheritances, and reduce litigation.

An Analytical Abstract of an Act for the Further Amendment of the Laws Relating to the Poor in England. (Illustrated London Almanack, 1845)

Also includes details on voting rights.

New Railway Regulations (Illustrated London Almanack, 1845)

New Laws of Debtor & Creditor (Illustrated London Almanack, 1845)

Sir R. Peel's New Corn Bill of 1846 (Illustrated London Almanack, 1847)

A Knowledge of the Laws (Leisure Hour, 1860)

The Customs Tariff Amendment Act, 1860 (Illustrated London Almanack, 1861)

Regulations Respecting Passports (Illustrated London Almanack, 1860)

Passport Regulations (Illustrated London Almanack, 1866)

Includes a list of offices for passport visas.

The Reform Act of 1867 (Illustrated London Almanack, 1868)

Also known as the "Representation of the People" act (applicable only to the people of England and Wales, excluding Scotland and Ireland).

The Ballot Act of 1872 (Illustrated London Almanack, 1873)

Popular Papers on English Law: The Dead Pledge (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1878)

A historical look at the laws surrounding the "mortgage" (yes, it does mean "dead pledge").

Popular Papers on English Law: I Give and Bequeath (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1878)

A "simple sketch" of English testamentary law -- i.e., wills.

Popular Papers on English Law: Signed, Sealed and Delivered (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1878)

A historical look at laws, contracts and conveyances of "real" property.

"In Chancery": Popular Papers on English Law (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1879)

Our Weights and Measures, by J. Munro (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1879)

The Weights and Measures Act of 1878. The Act did not establish a metric system in Britain, but did decree that a contract was not invalid if the weights or measures of items being bought or sold were expressed in metrics rather than Imperial measurements.

A Social Revolution: The Married Woman's Property Act, 1882 (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1883)

A revolutionary act indeed that enabled married women to hold property and money separately from their husbands.

Railway Regulations, by W. Maurice Adams (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1884)

The Law of Mistress and Servant (Girl's Own Paper, 1886)

The relationship between mistress and servant was one of mutual obligation, with specific rules and rights governing each.

Funds "In Chancery" (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1887)

Landlord and Tenant, by Mary Pocock (Girl's Own Paper, 1890)

Legal issues of landlords, tenants, leasing and rents.

The Married Women's Property Act, by A Solicitor (Girl's Own Paper, 1891)

An overview of the 1882 act that ensured that women could retain rights to their own property, and earn a separate income, even when married. (The act had pros and cons; no longer was a husband responsible for whatever debts his wife incurred, and a wife could become responsible for her husband's debts!)

The Rights and Obligations of Parents and Children, by C. Page Deane (Girl's Own Paper, 1891)

"Giving you some idea of the extent to which 'the eye of the law' regards what parents must do, and what children ought to do."

Letters from a Lawyer (Girl's Own Paper, 1899)

Brief notes on a variety of legal topics.

Coming of Age (Girl's Own Paper, 1900)

Laws regarding girls and women: when they come of age, when they may be betrothed (seven!), and more.

Practical Points of Law, by A Lawyer

Includes Introduction, Dogs, Education, Fire Assurance, Property Fixtures, Life Assurance, Infants/Children, Servants, Swindles, Tenants, Travel, Wedlock, Wills, Popular Errors

• See also Copyright Law