{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/child-abduction-and-custody-act-1985/section-27",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/child-abduction-and-custody-act-1985/section-27.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1985/60",
  "legislation_title": "Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/child-abduction-and-custody-act-1985",
  "path": "section/27",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "27",
  "heading": "Interpretation.",
  "text": "(1) In this Act “custody order” means (unless the contrary intention appears) any such order or authorisation as is mentioned in Schedule 3 to this Act and “custody proceedings” means proceedings in which an order within paragraphs 1, 2, 5, 6, 8 or 9 of that Schedule may be made, varied or revoked.\n(2) For the purposes of this Act “part of the United Kingdom” means England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland and “the appropriate court”, in relation to England and Wales or Northern Ireland means the High Court and, in relation to Scotland, the Court of Session.\n(3) In this Act “local authority” means—\n(a) in relation to England and Wales, the council of a non-metropolitan county, a metropolitan district, a London borough or the Common Council of the City of London; and\n(b) in relation to Scotland, a council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994.\n(4) In this Act a decision relating to rights of access in England and Wales or Northern Irelandor Scotland means a decision as to the contact which a child may, or may not, have with any person.\n(5) In this Act “ officer of the Service ” has the same meaning as in the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000.\n(5A) In this Act “Welsh family proceedings officer” has the meaning given by section 35 of the Children Act 2004",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words inserted by Family Law Act 1986 (c. 55, SIF 49:3), s. 68(1), Sch. 1 para. 30"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words substituted by Family Law Act 1986 (c. 55, SIF 49:9, 10), s. 67(5)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 27(3)(b) substituted (S.) (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 139; S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "S. 27(4) added (14.10.1991) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 108, Sch. 13 para. 57(2), Sch. 14 para. 1(1); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 27(4) inserted (4.11.1996) by S.I. 1995/756, art. 11(4); S.R. 1996/297, art. 3"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in s. 27(4) inserted (1.11.1996 subject to arts. 4-7 of the commencing Act) by 1995 c. 36, s. 105(4), Sch. 4 para. 37(5) (with s. 103(1)); S.I. 1996/2203, art. 3(3), Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "S. 27(5) inserted (1.4.2001) by 2000 c. 43, s. 80(1), Sch. 7 Pt. II para. 81; S.I. 2001/919, art. 2(f)(ii)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "S. 27(5A) inserted (E.W.) (1.4.2005) by Children Act 2004 (c. 31), s. 67(6), Sch. 3 para. 4; S.I. 2005/700, art. 2(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 27 applied (with modifications) (1.3.1997) by S.I. 1996/3156, art. 2, Sch.S. 27 applied (with modifications) (2.12.1997) by S.I. 1997/2574 art. 2, Sch."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1985/60/section/27",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:59:55.041541+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}