OpenLegislation

Family Law Act 1996 in Northern Ireland

1996 c. 27 · Enacted 4 July 1996 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 2 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 25 March 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
Sch. 8 para. 53repealedHousing and Regeneration Act 2008 Sch. 16
Sch. 8 para. 59 and cross-headingrepealedHousing and Regeneration Act 2008 Sch. 16

Contents

  1. Part II: Divorce and Separation
  2. 2Divorce and separation. Not yet in force
  3. 3Circumstances in which orders are made. Not yet in force
  4. 4Conversion of separation order into divorce order. Not yet in force
  5. 5Marital breakdown. Not yet in force
  6. 6Statement of marital breakdown. Not yet in force
  7. 7Period for reflection and consideration. Not yet in force
  8. 10Hardship: orders preventing divorce. Not yet in force
  9. 11Welfare of children. Not yet in force
  10. 13Directions with respect to mediation. Not yet in force
  11. 14Adjournments. Not yet in force
  12. 15Financial arrangements. Not yet in force
  13. 18Grounds for financial provision orders in magistrates’ courts. Not yet in force
  14. 19Jurisdiction in relation to divorce and separation. Not yet in force
  15. 20Time when proceedings for divorce or separation begin. Not yet in force
  16. 21Intestacy: effect of separation. Not yet in force
  17. 24Interpretation of Part II etc. Not yet in force
  18. 25Connected proceedings. Not yet in force
  19. Occupation orders
  20. 39Supplementary provisions.
  21. 40Additional provisions that may be included in certain occupation orders.
  22. 42AOffence of breaching non-molestation order
  23. Further provisions relating to occupation and non-molestation orders
  24. 43Leave of court required for applications by children under sixteen.
  25. Enforcement powers of magistrates’ courts
  26. Interim care orders and emergency protection orders
  27. 52Amendments of Children Act 1989.
  28. Transfer of tenancies
  29. 53Transfer of certain tenancies.
  30. Dwelling-house subject to mortgage
  31. 55Actions by mortgagees: joining connected persons as parties.
  32. 56Actions by mortgagees: service of notice on certain persons.
  33. 58Contempt proceedings.
  34. 60Provision for third parties to act on behalf of victims of domestic violence. Not yet in force
  35. General
  36. 63AForced marriage protection orders
  37. 63BContents of orders
  38. 63CApplications and other occasions for making orders
  39. 63CAOffence of breaching order
  40. Further provision about orders
  41. 63DEx parte orders: Part 4A
  42. 63FDuration of orders
  43. Arrest for breach of orders
  44. Jurisdiction and procedure
  45. 63OContempt proceedings: Part 4A
  46. Supplementary
  47. 63QGuidance
  48. 63ROther protection or assistance against forced marriage
  49. Part V: Supplemental
  50. 66Consequential amendments, transitional provisions and repeals.
  51. 67Short title, commencement and extent.
  52. The first exemption Not yet in force
  53. 1Paragraph 1 Not yet in force
  54. The second exemption Not yet in force
  55. 2Paragraph 2 Not yet in force
  56. The third exemption Not yet in force
  57. 3Paragraph 3 Not yet in force
  58. The fourth exemption Not yet in force
  59. 4Paragraph 4 Not yet in force
  60. Court orders and agreements Not yet in force
  61. 5Paragraph 5 Not yet in force
  62. Financial arrangements Not yet in force
  63. 6Paragraph 6 Not yet in force
  64. Negotiated agreements Not yet in force
  65. 7Paragraph 7 Not yet in force
  66. Declarations Not yet in force
  67. 8Paragraph 8 Not yet in force
  68. Interpretation Not yet in force
  69. 9Paragraph 9 Not yet in force
  70. Introductory Not yet in force
  71. 1Paragraph 1 Not yet in force
  72. The orders Not yet in force
  73. Financial provision: divorce and separation Not yet in force
  74. 3Paragraph 3 Not yet in force
  75. Financial provision: nullity of marriage Not yet in force
  76. 4Paragraph 4 Not yet in force
  77. Property adjustment orders: divorce and separation Not yet in force
  78. 5Paragraph 5 Not yet in force
  79. Property adjustment orders: nullity Not yet in force
  80. 6Paragraph 6 Not yet in force
  81. Pension sharing orders: divorce and nullity Not yet in force
  82. 6AParagraph 6A Not yet in force
  83. Period of secured and unsecured payments orders Not yet in force
  84. 7Paragraph 7 Not yet in force
  85. Variations et ceteralaetc. following reconciliations Not yet in force
  86. 8Paragraph 8 Not yet in force
  87. Introductory Not yet in force
  88. 1Paragraph 1 Not yet in force
  89. Interpretation Not yet in force
  90. 2Paragraph 2 Not yet in force
  91. 3Paragraph 3 Not yet in force
  92. 4Paragraph 4 Not yet in force
  93. Duty to furnish particulars of concurrent proceedings Not yet in force
  94. 5Paragraph 5 Not yet in force
  95. Obligatory stays in divorce cases Not yet in force
  96. 6Paragraph 6 Not yet in force
  97. Discretionary stays Not yet in force
  98. 7Paragraph 7 Not yet in force
  99. Discharge of orders Not yet in force
  100. 8Paragraph 8 Not yet in force
  101. Ancillary matters Not yet in force
  102. Interpretation
  103. Restriction on registration where spouse entitled to more than one charge
  104. Contract for sale of house affected by registered charge to include term requiring cancellation of registration before completion
  105. Postponement of priority of charge
  106. Interpretation
  107. Remand in custody or on bail
  108. 2Paragraph 2
  109. Further remand
  110. 3Paragraph 3
  111. Postponement of taking of recognizance
  112. 4Paragraph 4
  113. 1Paragraph 1
  114. 2Paragraph 2
  115. 3Paragraph 3
  116. 4Paragraph 4
  117. 5Paragraph 5
  118. Interpretation
  119. Cases in which the court may make an order
  120. Matters to which the court must have regard
  121. References to entitlement to occupy
  122. Protected, secure or assured tenancy or assured agricultural occupancy
  123. Statutory tenancy within the meaning of the Rent Act 1977
  124. Statutory tenancy within the meaning of the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976
  125. Part III: Supplementary provisions
  126. Compensation
  127. Liabilities and obligations in respect of the dwelling-house
  128. Inclusion of references to decrees in references to orders
  129. 13AParagraph 13A
  130. Rules of court
  131. 14Paragraph 14
  132. Saving for other provisions of Act
  133. 1Paragraph 1 Not yet in force
  134. 2Paragraph 2 Not yet in force
  135. 3Paragraph 3 Not yet in force
  136. 4Paragraph 4 Not yet in force
  137. 10Paragraph 10 Not yet in force
  138. 26Paragraph 26 Not yet in force
  139. 27Paragraph 27 Not yet in force
  140. 28Paragraph 28 Not yet in force
  141. 29Paragraph 29 Not yet in force
  142. The Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982 (c. 27) Not yet in force
  143. 31Paragraph 31 Not yet in force
  144. The Finance Act 1985 (c. 54) Not yet in force
  145. 33Paragraph 33 Not yet in force
  146. 34Paragraph 34 Not yet in force
  147. 35Paragraph 35 Not yet in force
  148. 36Paragraph 36 Not yet in force
  149. The Family Law Act 1986 (c. 55) Not yet in force
  150. 37Paragraph 37 Not yet in force
  151. 38Paragraph 38 Not yet in force
  152. 40Paragraph 40 Not yet in force
  153. 41Paragraph 41 Not yet in force
  154. 42Paragraph 42 Not yet in force
  155. 43Paragraph 43 Not yet in force
  156. 43AParagraph 43A Not yet in force
  157. Part III: Amendments connected with Part IV
  158. The Land Registration Act 1925 (c. 21)
  159. The Land Charges Act 1972 (c. 61)
  160. 46Paragraph 46
  161. 47Paragraph 47
  162. The Land Compensation Act 1973 (c. 26)
  163. The Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (c. 43)
  164. The Contempt of Court Act 1981 (c. 49)
  165. 50Paragraph 50
  166. The Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 (c. 42)
  167. 52Paragraph 52
  168. The Housing Act 1985 (c. 68)
  169. 54Paragraph 54
  170. 55Paragraph 55
  171. 56Paragraph 56
  172. The Insolvency Act 1986 (c. 45)
  173. 57Paragraph 57
  174. 58Paragraph 58
  175. The Children Act 1989 (c. 41)
  176. 60Paragraph 60
  177. The Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41)
  178. Transitional arrangements for those who have been living apart Not yet in force
  179. Modifications of enactments etc.
  180. 3Paragraph 3
  181. Expressions used in paragraphs 2 and 3
  182. Proceedings under way Not yet in force
  183. 5Paragraph 5 Not yet in force
  184. 6Paragraph 6 Not yet in force
  185. Interpretation
  186. 7Paragraph 7
  187. Pending applications for orders relating to occupation and molestation
  188. 8Paragraph 8
  189. Pending applications under Schedule 1 to the Matrimonial Homes Act 1983
  190. 9Paragraph 9
  191. Existing orders relating to occupation and molestation
  192. 10Paragraph 10
  193. Matrimonial home rights
  194. 11Paragraph 11
  195. 12Paragraph 12
  196. 13Paragraph 13
  197. 14Paragraph 14
  198. 15Paragraph 15