{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/family-law-act-1986/section-20",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/family-law-act-1986/section-20.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1986/55",
  "legislation_title": "Family Law Act 1986",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/family-law-act-1986",
  "path": "section/20",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "20",
  "heading": "Habitual residence or presence of child.",
  "text": "(1) The condition referred to in section 19(1)(b)(ii) of this Act is that on the relevant date the child concerned—\n(a) is habitually resident in Northern Ireland, or\n(b) is present in Northern Ireland and is not habitually resident in any part of the United Kingdom,\nand, in either case, the jurisdiction of the court is not excluded by subsection (2) below.\n(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) above. the jurisdiction or the court is excluded if, on the relevant date, matrimonial proceedings or civil partnership proceedings are continuing in a court in England and Wales or Scotland in respect of the marriage or civil partnership of the parents of the child concerned.\n(3) Subsection (2) above shall not apply if the court in which the other proceedings there referred to are continuing has made—\n(a) an order under section 2A(4) or 13(6) of this Act (not being an order made by virtue of section 13(6)(a)(i)), or\n(b) an order under section 5(2) or 14(2) of this Act which is recorded as made for the purpose of enabling Part I proceedings with respect to the child concerned to be taken in Northern Ireland,\nand that order is in force.\n(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
  "extent": "N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(1) 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, 14 (with reg. 20)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(2) substituted (4.11.1996) by S.I. 1995/755 (N.I. 2), art. 185(1), Sch. 9 para. 125(b); S.R. 1996/297, art. 2(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(2) inserted (5.12.2005) by The Civil Partnership (Family Proceedings and Housing Consequential Amendments) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3336), arts. 1, 15(a) (with art. 2(4))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(2) inserted (5.12.2005) by The Civil Partnership (Family Proceedings and Housing Consequential Amendments) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3336), arts. 1, 15(b) (with art. 2(4))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Figure in s. 20(3)(a) substituted (14.10.1991) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 108, Sch. 13 para. 68(c) (with Sch. 14 para. 1(1)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(3)(b) substituted (14.10.1991) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 108, Sch. 13 para. 62(2)(b) (with Sch. 14 para. 1(1)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "S. 20(4)-(6) repealed (4.11.1996) by S.I. 1995/755 (N.I. 2), art. 185(2), Sch. 10; S.R. 1996/297, art. 2(2)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/55/section/20",
    "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."
}