{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/courts-act-2003/section-64",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/courts-act-2003/section-64.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2003/39",
  "legislation_title": "Courts Act 2003",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/courts-act-2003",
  "path": "section/64",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "64",
  "heading": "Power to alter judicial titles",
  "text": "(1) The Lord Chancellor may by order—\n(a) alter the name of an office listed in subsection (2);\n(b) provide for or alter the way in which the holders of any of those offices are to be styled.\n(2) The offices are—\nAdmiralty Registrar\n...\nPresident of the Business and Property Division\nChief Master of the Business and Property Division\nChief Insolvency and Companies Court Judge\nChief Taxing Master\nCircuit judge\nDeputy Circuit judge\nDeputy district judge appointed under section 102 of the 1981 Act\nDeputy district judge appointed under section 8 of the County Courts Act 1984\nDeputy Head of Civil Justice\nDeputy Head of Family Justice\nDeputy judge of the High Court\nDistrict judge of the county court\nDistrict judge of the High Court\nDistrict judge of the principal registry of the Family Division\nDistrict probate registrar\nHead of Civil Justice\nHead of Family Justice\nInsolvency and Companies Court Judge\nLord Chief Justice\nMaster of the Business and Property Division\n...\nMaster of the Queen’s Bench Division\nMaster of the Rolls\nOrdinary judge of the Court of Appeal\nPresident of the Courts of England and Wales\nPresident of the Court of Protection,\nPresident of the Family Division\nPresident of the Queen's Bench Division\nPresiding Judge for a Circuit\nPuisne judge of the High Court\nQueen’s Coroner and Attorney and Master of the Crown Office and Registrar of Criminal Appeals\nRecorder\n...\nSenior District Judge of the Family Division\nSenior Judge of the Court of Protection,\nSenior Master of the Queen’s Bench Division\nSenior Presiding Judge for England and Wales\nTaxing Master of the Senior Courts\n...\nVice-president of the Court of Appeal\nVice-president of the Court of Protection.\nVice-president of the Queen’s Bench Division.\n(2A) The Lord Chancellor may by order—\n(a) alter the name of a relevant office;\n(b) provide for or alter the way in which a relevant office is to be styled.\n(2B) In subsection (2A) “a relevant office” is a sitting in retirement office under section 123 of the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 for which the corresponding original office is listed in Part 1 of Schedule 3 to that Act.\n(3) The Lord Chancellor may also by order provide for or alter the way in which deputies or temporary additional officers appointed under section 91(1) of the 1981 Act are to be styled.\n(3A) The Lord Chancellor may make an order under this section only with the concurrence of the Lord Chief Justice.\n(4) Before making an order under this section the Lord Chancellor must consult—\n(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(b) the Master of the Rolls,\n(ba) the President of the Queen's Bench Division,\n(c) the President of the Family Division, and\n(d) the President of the Business and Property Division.\n(5) An order under this section may make such provision as the Lord Chancellor considers necessary in consequence of any provision made under subsection (1) , (2A) or (3).\n(6) The provision that may be made under subsection (5) includes provision amending, repealing or revoking any enactment.\n(7) The Lord Chief Justice may nominate a judicial office holder (as defined in section 109(4) of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005) to exercise his functions under this section.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 64(2) omitted (15.7.2013) by virtue of Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 13 para. 89(2)(i); S.I. 2013/1725, art. 2(g)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 64(2) substituted (1.10.2026) by The Senior Courts (Transfer, Amendment and Consequential Provision) Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/723), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 22(2)(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 64(2) substituted (1.10.2026) by The Senior Courts (Transfer, Amendment and Consequential Provision) Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/723), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 22(3)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 64(2) inserted (20.2.2019) by Courts and Tribunals (Judiciary and Functions of Staff) Act 2018 (c. 33), ss. 2(3)(a), 4(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 64(2) substituted (19.7.2007) by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, (c. 39), ss. 56, 148, {Sch. 11 para. 14}"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in s. 64(2) inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), s. 15, Sch. 4 para. 331(2)(b)(ii); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(z)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 64(2) inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), s. 15, Sch. 4 para. 331(2)(b)(iv); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(z)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Words in s. 64(2) substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 40(b); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in s. 64(2) inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), s. 15, Sch. 4 para. 331(2)(b)(v); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(z)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "Words in s. 64(2) inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), s. 15, Sch. 4 para. 331(2)(b)(vii); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(z)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "Words in s. 64(2) inserted (26.2.2018) by The Alteration of Judicial Titles (Registrar in Bankruptcy of the High Court) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/130), art. 1, Sch. para. 10(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F12",
      "text": "Words in s. 64(2) substituted (1.10.2026) by The Senior Courts (Transfer, Amendment and Consequential Provision) Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/723), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 22(3)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F13",
      "text": "Words in s. 64(2) repealed (1.10.2007) by Mental Capacity Act 2005 (c. 9), ss. 67(1)(2), 68(1)-(3), Sch. 6 para. 47(3)(a), Sch. 7 (with ss. 27, 28, 29, 62); S.I. 2007/1897, art. 2(1)(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F14",
      "text": "Words in s. 64(2) inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), s. 15, Sch. 4 para. 331(2)(b)(viii); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(z)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F15",
      "text": "Words in s. 64(2) inserted (1.10.2007) by Mental Capacity Act 2005 (c. 9), ss. 67(1), 68(1)-(3), Sch. 6 para. 3(b)(ii) (with ss. 27, 28, 29, 62); S.I. 2007/1897, art. 2(1)(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F16",
      "text": "Words in s. 64(2) inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), s. 15, Sch. 4 para. 331(2)(b)(ix); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(z)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F17",
      "text": "Words in s. 64(2) omitted (26.2.2018) by virtue of The Alteration of Judicial Titles (Registrar in Bankruptcy of the High Court) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/130), art. 1, Sch. para. 10(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F18",
      "text": "Words in s. 64(2) inserted (1.10.2007) by Mental Capacity Act 2005 (c. 9), ss. 67(1), 68(1)-(3), Sch. 6 para. 3(b)(i) (with ss. 27, 28, 29, 62); S.I. 2007/1897, art. 2(1)(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F19",
      "text": "Words in s. 64(2) substituted (1.10.2009) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 59, 148, Sch. 11 para. 4; S.I. 2009/1604, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F20",
      "text": "Words in s. 64(2) repealed (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15, 146, Sch. 4 para. 331(2)(a) {Sch. 18 Pt. 2}; S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(y)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F21",
      "text": "Words in s. 64(2) inserted (1.10.2007) by Mental Capacity Act 2005 (c. 9), s. 67(1), 68(1)-(3), Sch. 6 para. 3(b)(iii) (with ss. 27, 28, 29, 62); S.I. 2007/1897, art. 2(1)(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F22",
      "text": "S. 64(2A)(2B) inserted (10.3.2022 for specified purposes, 1.10.2022 in so far as not already in force) by Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 (c. 7), s. 131(1)(4)(c), Sch. 4 para. 10(2); S.I. 2022/1014, reg. 2(d) (with reg. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F23",
      "text": "Word in s. 64(3) substituted (20.2.2019) by Courts and Tribunals (Judiciary and Functions of Staff) Act 2018 (c. 33), ss. 2(3)(b), 4(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F24",
      "text": "S. 64(3A) inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), s. 15, Sch. 4 para. 331(3); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(z)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F25",
      "text": "S. 64(4)(a) repealed (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15, 146, Sch. 4 para. 331(4)(b)(i), Sch. 18 Pt. 2; S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(z), 30(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F26",
      "text": "S. 64(4)(ba)-(d) substituted (3.4.2006) for s. 64(4)(c)(d) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), s. 15, Sch. 4 para. 331(4)(b); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(z)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F27",
      "text": "Words in s. 64(4)(d) substituted (1.10.2026) by The Senior Courts (Transfer, Amendment and Consequential Provision) Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/723), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 22(2)(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F28",
      "text": "Word in s. 64(5) inserted (10.3.2022 for specified purposes, 1.10.2022 in so far as not already in force) by Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 (c. 7), s. 131(1)(4)(c), Sch. 4 para. 10(3); S.I. 2022/1014, reg. 2(d) (with reg. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F29",
      "text": "S. 64(7) inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), s. 15, Sch. 4 para. 331(5); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(z)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/39/section/64",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:17:53.122162+00:00",
    "licence": "OGL-UK-3.0",
    "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."
  }
}