{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/domestic-proceedings-and-magistrates-courts-act-1978/introduction",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/domestic-proceedings-and-magistrates-courts-act-1978/introduction.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1978/22",
  "legislation_title": "Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1978",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/domestic-proceedings-and-magistrates-courts-act-1978",
  "path": "introduction",
  "kind": "introduction",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Introductory text",
  "text": "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.\n[30th June 1978]",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Act not in force at Royal Assent; Act wholly in force 1.12.1985"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1978/22/introduction",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:23:00.803749+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."
}