Explanatory note

This Order amends the Children (Allocation of Proceedings) Order 1991 (“the 1991 Order”) by nominating additional courts as Family Hearing Centres and Care Centres. The new Family Hearing Centres are the county courts at Dudley, Grimsby, Bedford, Dartford, King’s Lynn, Bath and Weymouth. The new Care Centres are the county courts at Canterbury and Swindon. The Care Centre at Llangefni County Court is closed. In addition the Order provides that proceedings arising in the petty sessions areas of Machynlleth, Newtown, and Welshpool which are to be transferred to a Care Centre, shall be transferred to Chester County Court.

Article 14 of the 1991 Order states that, subject to certain exceptions, an application under the Adoption Act 1976 (c. 36) which is made to a county court, shall be made to a divorce county court. This Order repeals section 62(2)(b) of the Adoption Act 1976 to make it clear that an application may be made to any divorce county court irrespective of where the child or, as the case may be, the parent or guardian of the child is.