OpenLegislation

Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1978

1978 c. 22 · Enacted 30 June 1978 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 8 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 22 April 2014.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 28(2) 63(3) Sch. 2 para. 38 53repealed (prosp.)Family Law Act 1996 s. 66(3) Sch. 10
s. 1(c)(d)repealed (prosp.)Family Law Act 1996 s. 18(1) 66(3) Sch. 10
s. 7(1)repealed in part (prosp.)Family Law Act 1996 s. 18(2) 66(3) Sch. 10
s. 16-18repealed (prosp.)Family Law Act 1996 s. 66(3) Sch. 10
s. 28(1)amended (prosp.)Family Law Act 1996 s. 66(1) Sch. 8 Pt. 1 para. 28
s. 5(2)(a)amended (temp.) (prosp.)Education Act 1996 s. 582(1)(4) Sch. 37 Pt. 2 para. 138 Sch. 40 para. 1
s. 88repealed in partAccess to Justice Act 1999 Sch. 15 Pt. 5(1)
s. 26(2)—Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 Sch. 7 para. 57(a)(b)

An Act to make fresh provision for matrimonial proceedings in magistrates’ courts; to amend enactments relating to other proceedings so as to eliminate certain differences between the law relating to those proceedings and the law relating to matrimonial proceedings in magistrates’ courts; to extend section 15 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1949; to amend Part II of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1952; to amend section 2 of the Administration of Justice Act 1964; to amend the Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972; to amend certain enactments relating to adoption; and for purposes connected with those matters.

[30th June 1978] I1

Annotations to the whole text

Commencement

I1

Act not in force at Royal Assent; Act wholly in force 1.12.1985

Contents

  1. Part I: Matrimonial Proceedings in Magistrates’ Courts
  2. Powers of court to make orders for financial provision for parties to a marriage and children of the family
  3. 1Grounds of application for financial provision.
  4. 2Powers of court to make orders for financial provision.
  5. 3Matters to which court is to have regard in exercising its powers under s. 2.
  6. 4Duration of orders for financial provision for a party to a marriage.
  7. 5Age limit on making orders for financial provision for children and duration of such orders.
  8. 6Orders for payments which have been agreed by the parties.
  9. 7Powers of court where parties are living apart by agreement.
  10. Powers of court as to the custody etc. of children
  11. 8Restriction on making of orders under this Act: welfare of children.
  12. 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  13. 10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  14. 11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  15. 12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  16. 13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  17. 14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  18. 15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  19. Powers of the court to make orders for the protection of a party to a marriage or a child of the family
  20. 16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  21. 17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  22. 18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  23. Interim orders
  24. 19Interim orders.
  25. Variation, revocation and cessation of orders etc.
  26. 20Variation, revival and revocation of orders for periodical payments.
  27. 20ZAVariation of orders for periodical payments: further provisions.
  28. 20ARevival of orders for periodical payments.
  29. 21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  30. 22Variation of instalments of lump sum. Repealed
  31. 23Supplementary provisions with respect to variation and revocation of orders.
  32. 24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  33. 25Effect on certain orders of parties living together.
  34. Reconciliation
  35. 26Reconciliation.
  36. Provisions relating to High Court and county court
  37. 27Refusal of order in case more suitable for High Court. Repealed
  38. 28Powers of High Court and family court in relation to certain orders under Part I.
  39. 29Appeals. Repealed
  40. Provisions relating to procedure, jurisdiction and enforcement
  41. 30Provisions as to jurisdiction and procedure.
  42. 31Constitution of courts. Repealed
  43. 32Enforcement etc. of orders for payment of money.
  44. 33. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  45. 34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  46. 35Orders for repayment in certain cases of sums paid after cessation of order by reason of remarriage or formation of civil partnership .
  47. Part II: Amendments of the Guardianship of Minors Acts 1971 and 1973
  48. Amendment of provisions relating to the custody of minors
  49. 36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  50. 37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  51. 38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  52. 39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  53. 40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  54. Amendment of provisions relating to orders for maintenance
  55. 41. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  56. 42. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  57. 43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  58. 44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  59. General provisions
  60. 45. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  61. 46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  62. 47. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  63. 48. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  64. Part III: Amendments of other Enactments relating to Domestic Proceedings
  65. Amendments of Affiliation Proceedings Act 1957
  66. 49. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  67. 50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  68. 51. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  69. 52. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  70. 53. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  71. Amendments of Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972
  72. 54Date of operation of orders under Part I of Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972.
  73. 55Interpretation of Part I of Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972 as respects Scotland.
  74. 56Magistrates’ courts having jurisdiction to hear applications for affiliation orders under s. 27 of Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972.
  75. 57. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  76. 58. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  77. 59Complaint by former wife in convention country for recovery in Northern Ireland of maintenance from former husband.
  78. 60Further amendments of Maintenance Orders Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972 as respects Scotland.
  79. 61Eligibility for Legal Aid in Scotland for proceedings under Maintenance Orders Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972.
  80. Amendments of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973
  81. 62Amendment of s. 4 of Matrimonial Causes Act 1973.
  82. 63Amendment of s. 27 of Matrimonial Causes Act 1973.
  83. Amendments of the Children Act 1975
  84. 64. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  85. 65. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  86. 66. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  87. 67. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  88. 68. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  89. 69. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  90. 70. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  91. 71. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  92. Amendments of enactments relating to adoption
  93. 72. Repealed
  94. 73Hearing in private of adoption proceedings.
  95. 74Provisions relating to Convention adoption orders.
  96. Part IV
  97. 75–83. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  98. Part V: Supplementary Provisions
  99. 84, 85. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  100. 86. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  101. 87Expenses.
  102. 88Interpretation.
  103. 89Transitional provisions, amendments, repeals and commencement.
  104. 90Short title and extent.
  105. Schedule 1: Transitional Provisions
  106. 1Paragraph 1
  107. 2Paragraph 2
  108. 3Paragraph 3
  109. 3AParagraph 3A
  110. 4Paragraph 4
  111. 5Paragraph 5
  112. 6, 7Paragraph 6, 7 Repealed
  113. 8Paragraph 8
  114. Schedule 2: Minor and Consequential Amendments
  115. The Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1907 (c. 51)
  116. 1Paragraph 1
  117. The Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement) Act 1920 (c. 33)
  118. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  119. 3—5Paragraph 3—5 Repealed
  120. The National Assistance Act 1948 (c. 29)
  121. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  122. 7Paragraph 7
  123. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  124. The Marriage Act 1949 (c. 76)
  125. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  126. The Justices of the Peace Act 1949 (c. 101)
  127. 10Paragraph 10
  128. The Maintenance Orders Act 1950 (c. 37.)
  129. 11Paragraph 11
  130. 12Paragraph 12
  131. 13Paragraph 13
  132. 14Paragraph 14
  133. 15Paragraph 15 Repealed
  134. The Affiliation Proceedings Act 1957 (c. 55)
  135. 16Paragraph 16
  136. The Adoption Act 1958 (7 & 8 Eliz. 2 c. 5)
  137. 17Paragraph 17
  138. 18Paragraph 18
  139. The County Courts Act 1959 (c. 22)
  140. 19Paragraph 19
  141. 20Paragraph 20 Repealed
  142. 21Paragraph 21 Repealed
  143. The Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 (c. 46)
  144. 22Paragraph 22 Repealed
  145. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  146. 24Paragraph 24 Repealed
  147. 25Paragraph 25 Repealed
  148. The Administration of Justice Act 1970 (c. 31)
  149. 26Paragraph 26
  150. The Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 (c. 42)
  151. 27Paragraph 27 Repealed
  152. The Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Act 1970 (c. 45)
  153. 28Paragraph 28
  154. The Guardianship of Minors Act 1971 (c. 3)
  155. 29Paragraph 29 Repealed
  156. 30Paragraph 30 Repealed
  157. 31Paragraph 31 Repealed
  158. The Attachment of Earnings Act 1971 (c. 32)
  159. 32Paragraph 32
  160. The Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972 (c. 18)
  161. 33Paragraph 33
  162. 34Paragraph 34 Repealed
  163. 35Paragraph 35 Repealed
  164. 36Paragraph 36 Repealed
  165. 37Paragraph 37
  166. The Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18)
  167. 38Paragraph 38
  168. 39Paragraph 39
  169. 40Paragraph 40
  170. The Guardianship Act 1973 (c. 29)
  171. 41Paragraph 41 Repealed
  172. 42Paragraph 42 Repealed
  173. 43Paragraph 43 Repealed
  174. 44Paragraph 44 Repealed
  175. 45Paragraph 45 Repealed
  176. The Children Act 1975 (c. 72)
  177. 46Paragraph 46 Repealed
  178. 47Paragraph 47 Repealed
  179. 48Paragraph 48 Repealed
  180. 49Paragraph 49 Repealed
  181. The Adoption Act 1976 (c. 36)
  182. 50Paragraph 50 Repealed
  183. 51Paragraph 51
  184. 52Paragraph 52 Repealed
  185. The Domestic Violence and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1976 (c. 50)
  186. 53Paragraph 53 Repealed
  187. The Supplementary Benefits Act 1976 (c. 71)
  188. 54Paragraph 54
  189. Schedule 3Enactments Repealed