Rule 2.12 Consent to the grant of a decree [or civil partnership order ]

Where, before the hearing of a petition alleging 2 years’ separation coupled with the respondent’s consent to a decree [^f1 or civil partnership order] being granted, the respondent wishes to indicate to the court that he consents to the grant of a decree [^f2 or civil partnership order], he must do so by giving the Master a notice to that effect signed by the respondent personally. For the purposes of this paragraph an acknowledgement of service containing a statement that the respondent consents to the grant of a decree [^f3 or civil partnership order] shall be treated as such a notice if the acknowledgement is signed—

A respondent to a petition which alleges any such fact as is mentioned in paragraph (1) may give notice to the court either that he does not consent to a decree [^f4 or civil partnership order] being granted or that he withdraws any consent which he has already given.

Where any such notice is given and [^f5 no other relevant fact] is alleged, the proceedings on the petition shall be stayed and the Master shall thereupon give notice of the stay to all parties.

^f6In this rule a “relevant fact” is—