Explanatory note

These Rules amend the Magistrates’ Courts (Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982) Rules (Northern Ireland) 1986 (S.R. 1986 No. 359) to take account of the application in Northern Ireland of the Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and other forms of Family Maintenance done at The Hague on 23 November 2007 (“the 2007 Hague Convention”). By virtue of Council Decision 2011/432/EU, the 2007 Hague Convention will be concluded by the European Union on behalf of all Member States at a date after 10 December 2012 at a date to be determined. That conclusion will bind Member States (except for Denmark) to apply the Convention. The amendments are required to prescribe the procedure to be followed when making an application under the 2007 Hague Convention.

Further provision is also made in relation to applications under Council Regulation (EC) No. 4/2009 of 18 December 2008 on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of decisions and co-operation in matters relating to maintenance obligations (”the Maintenance Regulation”).