{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/child-support-northern-ireland-order-1991/article-38E",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/child-support-northern-ireland-order-1991/article-38E.json",
  "legislation": "nisi/1991/2628",
  "legislation_title": "The Child Support (Northern Ireland) Order 1991",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/child-support-northern-ireland-order-1991",
  "path": "article/38E",
  "kind": "article",
  "number": "38E",
  "heading": "Power to write off arrears",
  "text": "(1) The Department may extinguish liability in respect of arrears of child support maintenance if it appears to it—\n(a) that the circumstances of the case are of a description specified in regulations made by the Department, and\n(b) that it would be unfair or otherwise inappropriate to enforce liability in respect of the arrears.\n(2) The Department may by regulations make provision with respect to the exercise of the power under paragraph (1).",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Art. 38E inserted (3.12.2012 for specified purposes, 10.12.2012 in so far as not already in operation) by Child Maintenance Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 10), ss. 24, 41(1) (with s. 40(2)); S.R. 2012/423, art. 2(2)(b); S.R. 2012/440, art. 2(2)(a) (with art. 4)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/1991/2628/article/38E",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T04:45:21.435585+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."
}