How to read and check our guidance

The starting point for research is the authority responsible for a rule or service: government departments, municipalities, regulators and official legislation. Supporting explanations can help clarify context, but they do not replace the deciding authority. Follow the references in a guide to check which source supports the information you need.

A useful explanation identifies who a process applies to, the documents involved and the next action. The editorial standard is to keep important exceptions visible, distinguish national rules from local procedures and use recognisable terms from official forms. A general explanation should not imply that every reader follows the same steps.

Local Manual uses AI-assisted tools in content preparation and translation. Fluent wording is not proof that a requirement is correct or current, and AI can make mistakes. Important claims should be traceable to official sources. Do not assume a page has been reviewed by a lawyer, tax adviser or other qualified professional unless it explicitly says so.

An updated date tells you when a page was updated; it is not a promise that every linked source was checked on that date. Fees, deadlines, eligibility rules and local procedures can change. Check the responsible service before relying on a detail that affects an application, payment or important decision. The site does not provide live monitoring of every rule.

If a page appears incorrect, outdated or unclear, use Contact to send its address and identify the passage. An official source or announcement helps distinguish a changed rule from an exception or a misunderstanding. A disclaimer does not make an inaccurate explanation acceptable; clear sourcing and useful corrections are part of the editorial standard.