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Family Law Reform Act 1987

1987 c. 42 · Enacted 15 May 1987 · Extends to United Kingdom

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 2 December 2019.

An Act to reform the law relating to the consequences of birth outside marriage; to make further provision with respect to the rights and duties of parents and the determination of parentage; and for connected purposes.

[15th May 1987]

C1I1Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act restricted by S.I. 1989/382, art. 3, Sch. 2 para. 1

Commencement

I1

Act not in force at Royal Assent see s. 34(2)

Contents

  1. Part I: General Principle
  2. 1General principle.
  3. Part II: Rights and Duties of Parents etc.
  4. Parental rights and duties: general
  5. 2Construction of enactments relating to parental rights and duties.
  6. 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  7. Parental rights and duties where parents not married
  8. 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  9. 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  10. 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  11. 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  12. 8Rights where child in care etc.
  13. 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  14. . . .
  15. 10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  16. 11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  17. . . .
  18. 12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  19. 13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  20. 14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  21. . . .
  22. 15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  23. 16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  24. Supplemental
  25. 17Abolition of affiliation proceedings.
  26. Part III: Property Rights
  27. 18Succession on intestacy.
  28. 19Dispositions of property.
  29. 20No special protection for trustees and personal representatives.
  30. 21Entitlement to grant of probate etc.
  31. Part IV: Determination of Relationships
  32. 22Declarations of parentage.
  33. 23Provisions as to scientific tests.
  34. Part V: Registration of Births
  35. 24Registration of father where parents not married.
  36. 25Re-registration where parents not married.
  37. 26Re-registration after declaration of parentage.
  38. Part VI: Miscellaneous and Supplemental
  39. Miscellaneous
  40. 27Artificial insemination.
  41. 28Children of void marriages.
  42. 29Evidence of paternity in civil proceedings.
  43. Supplemental
  44. 30Orders applying section 1 to other enactments.
  45. 31Interpretation.
  46. 32Text of 1971 Act as amended. Not yet in force
  47. 33Amendments, transitional provisions, savings and repeals.
  48. 34Short title, commencement and extent.
  49. Schedule 1TEXT OF 1971 ACT AS AMENDED
  50. General principles
  51. 1Paragraph 1
  52. Appointment, removal and powers of guardians
  53. 3Paragraph 3
  54. 4Paragraph 4
  55. 5Paragraph 5
  56. 6Paragraph 6
  57. 7Paragraph 7
  58. Orders for custody and financial relief
  59. 9Paragraph 9
  60. 10Paragraph 10
  61. 11AParagraph 11A
  62. 11BParagraph 11B
  63. 11CParagraph 11C
  64. 11DParagraph 11D
  65. 12Paragraph 12
  66. 12AParagraph 12A
  67. 12BParagraph 12B
  68. 12CParagraph 12C
  69. 12DParagraph 12D
  70. 13Paragraph 13
  71. 13AParagraph 13A
  72. 13BParagraph 13B
  73. Access to children by grandparents
  74. 14AParagraph 14A
  75. Jurisdiction and procedure
  76. 15Paragraph 15
  77. 15AParagraph 15A
  78. 16Paragraph 16
  79. 17Paragraph 17
  80. Supplementary
  81. 20Paragraph 20
  82. (Formal enacting words)
  83. General principles
  84. 1Principle on which questions relating to custody, upbringing etc. of children are to be decided.
  85. Appointment, removal and powers of guardians
  86. 3Rights of surviving parent as to guardianship.
  87. 4Power of father and mother to appoint testamentary guardians.
  88. 5Power of court to appoint guardian for child having no parent etc.
  89. 6Power of High Court to remove or replace guardian.
  90. 7Disputes between joint guardians.
  91. Orders for custody and financial relief
  92. 9Orders for custody on application of either parent.
  93. 10Orders for custody in guardianship cases.
  94. 11AFurther provisions relating to orders for custody.
  95. 11BOrders for financial relief on application of either parent.
  96. 11COrders for financial relief in guardianship cases.
  97. 11DOrders for financial relief for persons over eighteen.
  98. 12Duration of orders for periodical payments.
  99. 12AMatters to which court is to have regard in making orders for financial relief.
  100. 12BProvisions relating to lump sums.
  101. 12CVariation etc, of orders for periodical payments.
  102. 12DVariation of order for secured periodical payments after death of parent.
  103. 13Enforcement of orders for custody and maintenance.
  104. 13ARestriction on removal of child from England and Wales.
  105. 13BDirection for settlement of instrument by conveyancing counsel.
  106. Access to children by grandparents
  107. 14AAccess to children by grandparents.
  108. Jurisdiction and Procedure
  109. 15Courts having jurisdiction under this Act.
  110. 15AFinancial provision for child resident in country outside England and Wales.
  111. 17Saving for powers of High Court and other courts.
  112. Supplementary
  113. 20Short title, interpretation and extent.
  114. Schedule 2: MINOR AND CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS
  115. The Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement) Act 1920 (c.33)
  116. 1Paragraph 1
  117. The Trustee Act 1925 (c.19)
  118. 2Paragraph 2
  119. The Administration of Estates Act 1925 (c.23)
  120. 3Paragraph 3
  121. 4Paragraph 4
  122. The National Assistance Act 1948 (c.29)
  123. 5Paragraph 5
  124. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  125. 7Paragraph 7
  126. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  127. The Marriage Act 1949 (c.76)
  128. 9Paragraph 9
  129. 10Paragraph 10
  130. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  131. The Maintenance Orders Act 1950 (c. 37)
  132. 12Paragraph 12
  133. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  134. . . .
  135. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  136. The Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 (c. 20)
  137. 15Paragraph 15
  138. 16Paragraph 16
  139. 17Paragraph 17
  140. The Maintenance Orders Act 1958 (c. 39)
  141. 18Paragraph 18 Repealed
  142. The Domestic and Appellate Proceedings (Restriction of Publicity) Act 1968 (c. 63)
  143. 19Paragraph 19
  144. The Family Law Reform Act 1969 (c. 46)
  145. 20Paragraph 20 Repealed
  146. 21Paragraph 21
  147. 22Paragraph 22
  148. 23Paragraph 23
  149. 24Paragraph 24
  150. 25Paragraph 25
  151. The Children and Young Persons Act 1969 (c.54)
  152. 26Paragraph 26 Repealed
  153. The Administration of Justice Act 1970 (c.31)
  154. 27Paragraph 27
  155. The Guardianship of Minors Act 1971 (c.3)
  156. 28Paragraph 28
  157. 29Paragraph 29
  158. 30Paragraph 30
  159. 31Paragraph 31
  160. 32Paragraph 32
  161. 33Paragraph 33
  162. 34Paragraph 34
  163. 35Paragraph 35
  164. 36Paragraph 36
  165. 37Paragraph 37
  166. 38Paragraph 38
  167. 39Paragraph 39
  168. 40Paragraph 40
  169. 41Paragraph 41
  170. 42Paragraph 42
  171. 43Paragraph 43
  172. The Attachment of Earnings Act 1971 (c.32)
  173. 44Paragraph 44
  174. The Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972 (c.18)
  175. 45Paragraph 45 Repealed
  176. 46Paragraph 46 Repealed
  177. 47Paragraph 47
  178. 48Paragraph 48
  179. 49Paragraph 49
  180. 50Paragraph 50 Repealed
  181. 51Paragraph 51 Repealed
  182. The Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c.18)
  183. 52Paragraph 52
  184. The Guardianship Act 1973 (c.29)
  185. 53Paragraph 53
  186. 54Paragraph 54
  187. 55Paragraph 55
  188. 56Paragraph 56
  189. 57Paragraph 57
  190. 58Paragraph 58
  191. The Social Security Act 1975 (c.14)
  192. 59Paragraph 59 Repealed
  193. The Children Act 1975 (c.72)
  194. 60Paragraph 60
  195. 61Paragraph 61
  196. 62Paragraph 62
  197. 63Paragraph 63
  198. 64Paragraph 64
  199. 65Paragraph 65
  200. 66Paragraph 66
  201. . . .
  202. 67Paragraph 67 Repealed
  203. 68Paragraph 68 Repealed
  204. The Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1978 (c.22)
  205. 69Paragraph 69
  206. 70Paragraph 70 Repealed
  207. 71Paragraph 71
  208. 72Paragraph 72
  209. The Interpretation Act 1978 (c.30)
  210. 73Paragraph 73
  211. 74Paragraph 74
  212. The Child Care Act 1980 (c.5)
  213. 75Paragraph 75
  214. 76Paragraph 76
  215. 77Paragraph 77
  216. 78Paragraph 78
  217. 79Paragraph 79
  218. The Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (c.43)
  219. 80Paragraph 80
  220. 81Paragraph 81 Repealed
  221. 82Paragraph 82
  222. 83Paragraph 83 Repealed
  223. 84Paragraph 84 Repealed
  224. 85Paragraph 85 Repealed
  225. 86Paragraph 86
  226. 87Paragraph 87 Repealed
  227. 88Paragraph 88
  228. The Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982 (c.27)
  229. 89Paragraph 89
  230. The Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985 (c.60)
  231. 90Paragraph 90
  232. The Social Security Act 1986 (c.50)
  233. 91Paragraph 91 Repealed
  234. 92Paragraph 92 Repealed
  235. 93Paragraph 93 Repealed
  236. The Family Law Act 1986 (c.55)
  237. 94Paragraph 94 Repealed
  238. 95Paragraph 95 Repealed
  239. 96Paragraph 96
  240. Schedule 3: Transitional Provisions and Savings
  241. Applications pending under amended or repealed enactments
  242. 1Paragraph 1
  243. References to provisions of Adoption Act 1976
  244. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  245. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  246. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  247. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  248. Affiliation orders
  249. 6Paragraph 6
  250. 7Paragraph 7
  251. Property rights
  252. 8Paragraph 8
  253. 9Paragraph 9
  254. 10Paragraph 10
  255. . . .
  256. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  257. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  258. Schedule 4Repeals