{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/family-law-act-1986/section-19",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/family-law-act-1986/section-19.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1986/55",
  "legislation_title": "Family Law Act 1986",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/family-law-act-1986",
  "path": "section/19",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "19",
  "heading": "Jurisdiction: general.",
  "text": "(1) A court in Northern Ireland shall not make a section 1(1)(c) order with respect to a child unless—\n(a) it has jurisdiction under ... the Hague Convention , or\n(b) the Hague Convention does not apply but—\n(i) the question of making the order arises in or in connection with matrimonial proceedings or civil partnership proceedings and the condition in section 19A of this Act is satisfied, or\n(ii) the condition in section 20 of this Act is satisfied.\n(3) A court in Northern Ireland shall not make a section 1(1)(e) order unless—\n(a) it has jurisdiction under ... the Hague Convention , or\n(b) the Hague Convention does not apply but—\n(i) the condition in section 20 of this Act is satisfied, or\n(ii) the child concerned is present in Northern Ireland on the relevant date and the court considers that the immediate exercise of its powers is necessary for his protection.",
  "extent": "N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 19, 19A substituted for s. 19 (N.I.) (4.11.1996) by S.I. 1995/755 (N.I. 2), art. 185(1), Sch. 9 para. 124; S.R. 1996/297, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "S. 19(1) substituted for s. 19(1)(2) (1.3.2005) by The European Communities (Jurisdiction and Judgments in Matrimonial and Parental Responsibility Matters) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/265), regs. 1, 12(2) (with reg. 20)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 19(1)(a) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Jurisdiction and Judgments (Family) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/519), reg. 1(1), Sch. para. 15(4)(a) (with reg. 8) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1574, regs. 1, 5(2)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 19(1)(a) inserted (1.11.2012) by The Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children (International Obligations) (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1898), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 7(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 19(1)(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Jurisdiction and Judgments (Family) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/519), reg. 1(1), Sch. para. 15(4)(b) (with reg. 8) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1574, regs. 1, 5(2)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in s. 19(1)(b)(i) inserted (5.12.2005) by The Civil Partnership (Family Proceedings and Housing Consequential Amendments) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3336), arts. 1, 12 (with art. 2(4))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "S. 19(3) substituted (1.3.2005) by The European Communities (Jurisdiction and Judgments in Matrimonial and Parental Responsibility Matters) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/265), regs. 1, 12(3) (with reg. 20)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Words in s. 19(3)(a) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Jurisdiction and Judgments (Family) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/519), reg. 1(1), Sch. para. 15(4)(a) (with reg. 8) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1574, regs. 1, 5(2)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in s. 19(3)(a) inserted (1.11.2012) by The Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children (International Obligations) (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1898), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 7(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "Words in s. 19(3)(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Jurisdiction and Judgments (Family) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/519), reg. 1(1), Sch. para. 15(4)(b) (with reg. 8) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1574, regs. 1, 5(2)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "inserted",
      "affecting": "nia/2022/18",
      "affecting_title": "Adoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/55/section/19",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:54:01.745039+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."
}