{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/child-support-act-1991/section-54",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/child-support-act-1991/section-54.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1991/48",
  "legislation_title": "Child Support Act 1991",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/child-support-act-1991",
  "path": "section/54",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "54",
  "heading": "Interpretation.",
  "text": "(1) In this Act—\n“non-resident parent”, has the meaning given in section 3(2);\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n“application for a variation” means an application under section 28A or 28G;\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n“benefit Acts” means the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 and the Social Security Administration Act 1992;\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n“charging order” has the same meaning as in section 1 of the Charging Orders Act 1979;\n“child benefit” has the same meaning as in the Child Benefit Act 1975;\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n“child support maintenance” has the meaning given in section 3(6);\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n“curfew order” has the meaning given in section 39H(1);\n“deduction from earnings order” has the meaning given in section 31(2);\n“default maintenance decision” has the meaning given in section 12;\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n“deposit-taker” means a person who, in the course of a business, may lawfully accept deposits in the United Kingdom;\n“disability living allowance” has the same meaning as in the benefit Acts;\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n“income-based jobseeker’s allowance” has the same meaning as in the Jobseekers Act 1995;\n“income-related employment and support allowance” means an income-related allowance under Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act 2007 (employment and support allowance);\n“income support” has the same meaning as in the benefit Acts;\n“interim maintenance decision” has the meaning given in section 12;\n“liability order” has the meaning given in section 33(2);\n“maintenance agreement” has the meaning given in section 9(1);\n“maintenance calculation” means a calculation of maintenance made under this Act and, except in prescribed circumstances, includes a default maintenance decision and an interim maintenance decision;\n“maintenance order” has the meaning given in section 8(11);\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n“parent”, in relation to any child, means any person who is in law the mother or father of the child;\n“parent with care” means a person who is, in relation to a child, both a parent and a person with care.\n“parental responsibility”, in the application of this Act—\n(a)to England and Wales, has the same meaning as in the Children Act 1989; and\n(b)to Scotland, shall be construed as a reference to “parental responsibilities” within the meaning given by section 1(3) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995;\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n“person with care” has the meaning given in section 3(3);\n“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State;\n“qualifying child” has the meaning given in section 3(1);\n“voluntary payment” has the meaning given in section 28J.\n(2) The definition of “deposit-taker” in subsection (1) is to be read with—\n(a) section 22 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;\n(b) any relevant order under that section; and\n(c) Schedule 2 to that Act.",
  "extent": "E+W+S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 54(1) renumbered (1.6.2009) by virtue of Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008 (c. 6), s. 62(3), Sch. 7 para. 1(25); S.I. 2009/1314, art. 2(2)(b)(ii)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in Act substituted (31.1.2001 for specified purposes, 3.3.2003 for specified purposes) by Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19), s. 86(1)(a)(2), Sch. 3 para. 11(2) (with s. 83(6)); S.I. 2000/3354, art. 2(1)(b); S.I. 2003/192, art. 3, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 54 repealed (1.6.1999 for specified purposes, 29.11.1999 for specified purposes) by Social Security Act 1998 (c. 14), s. 87(2), Sch. 7 para. 47(b), Sch. 8; S.I. 1999/1510, art. 2(g)(iv); S.I. 1999/3178, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with arts. 2(2), 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 54 omitted (3.11.2008) by virtue of The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/2833), art. 1(1), Sch. 3 para. 96"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 54 inserted (4.9.1995) by Child Support Act 1995 (c. 34), s. 30(4), Sch. 3 para. 16; S.I. 1995/2302, art. 2, Sch. Pt. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Word in s. 54 substituted (3.3.2003 for specified purposes) by Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19), s. 86(1)(a)(2), Sch. 3 para. 11(20)(a) (with s. 83(6)); S.I. 2003/192, art. 3, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 54 inserted (3.3.2003 for specified purposes) by Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19), s. 86(1)(a)(2), Sch. 3 para. 11(20)(a) (with s. 83(6)); S.I. 2003/192, art. 3, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Words in s. 54 omitted (3.3.2003 for specified purposes) by virtue of Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19), s. 86(1)(a)(e)(2), Sch. 3 para. 11(20)(e), Sch 9 Pt I (with s. 83(6)); S.I. 2003/192, art. 3, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in s. 54 substituted (1.7.1992) by Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1992 (c. 6), s. 4, Sch. 2 para. 114(a)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "Words in s. 54(1) inserted (1.6.2009 for specified purposes) by Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008 (c. 6), s. 62(3), Sch. 7 para. 1(25)(a); S.I. 2009/1314, art. 2(2)(b)(ii)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "Words in s. 54(1) omitted (1.8.2012) by virtue of The Public Bodies (Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Abolition and Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2007), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 61"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F12",
      "text": "Words in s. 54 inserted (3.3.2003 for specified purposes) by Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19), s. 86(1)(a)(2), Sch. 3 para. 11(20)(b) (with s. 83(6)); S.I. 2003/192, art. 3, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F13",
      "text": "Words in s. 54 repealed (6.4.2003) by Tax Credits Act 2002 (c. 21), s. 61, Sch. 6; S.I. 2003/962, art. 2(3)(e), Sch. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F14",
      "text": "Words in s. 54 repealed (3.11.2008) by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15), s. 148, Sch. 23 Pt. 2; S.I. 2008/2696, art. 5(j) (with art. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F15",
      "text": "Words in s. 54 inserted (7.10.1996) by Jobseekers Act 1995 (c. 18), s. 41(2), Sch. 2 para. 20(6); S.I. 1996/2208, art. 2(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F16",
      "text": "Words in s. 54 inserted (27.10.2008) by Welfare Reform Act 2007 (c. 5), s. 70(2), Sch. 3 para. 7(7); S.I. 2008/787, art. 2(4)(f)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F17",
      "text": "Word in s. 54 substituted (3.3.2003 for specified purposes) by Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19), s. 86(1)(a)(2), Sch. 3 para. 11(20)(c) (with s. 83(6)); S.I. 2003/192, art. 3, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F18",
      "text": "Words in s. 54 substituted (3.3.2003 for specified purposes) by Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19), s. 86(1)(a)(2), Sch. 3 para. 11(20)(d) (with s. 83(6)); S.I. 2003/192, art. 3, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F19",
      "text": "Words in s. 54 substituted (1.11.1996) by Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 36), s. 105(1)(b), Sch. 4 para. 52(4)(a); S.I. 1996/2203, art. 3(3), Sch. (with arts. 4-7)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F20",
      "text": "Words in s. 54 repealed (1.11.1996) by Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 36), s. 105(1)(b), Sch. 4 para. 52(4)(b), Sch. 5; S.I. 1996/2203, art. 3(3), Sch. (with arts. 4-7)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F21",
      "text": "Words in s. 54 inserted (3.3.2003 for specified purposes) by Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19), s. 86(1)(a)(2), Sch. 3 para. 11(20)(f) (with s. 83(6)); S.I. 2003/192, art. 3, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F22",
      "text": "S. 54(2) inserted (1.6.2009) by Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008 (c. 6), s. 62(3), Sch. 7 para. 1(26); S.I. 2009/1314, art. 2(2)(b)(i)"
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M1",
      "text": "1975 c. 61."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "s. 54 renumbered as s. 54(1)",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2008/6",
      "affecting_title": "Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008"
    },
    {
      "type": "words substituted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2008/6",
      "affecting_title": "Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008"
    },
    {
      "type": "words repealed",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2009/24",
      "affecting_title": "Welfare Reform Act 2009"
    },
    {
      "type": "words repealed",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2012/5",
      "affecting_title": "Welfare Reform Act 2012"
    },
    {
      "type": "words inserted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2023/24",
      "affecting_title": "Child Support Collection (Domestic Abuse) Act 2023"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/48/section/54",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:37:00.270775+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."
}