{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-declarations-of-parentage-rules-northern-ireland-2002",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-declarations-of-parentage-rules-northern-ireland-2002.json",
  "id": "nisr/2002/158",
  "title": "Magistrates' Courts (Declarations of Parentage) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2002",
  "short_title": "Magistrates' Courts (Declarations of Parentage) 2002",
  "long_title": "These Rules prescribe the procedure to be followed in magistrates' courts on applications for declarations of parentage under Article 31B of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (as inserted by section 66 of the Child Support Pensions and Social Security Act (Northern Ireland) 2000). Proceedings under Article 31B replace those under Article 32(1)(a) of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, which were brought in the High Court and county courts and those under Article 28 of the Child Support (Northern Ireland) Order 1991, which were brought in magistrates' courts and were limited to cases involving child support where paternity was in issue.",
  "citation": "S.R. 2002/158",
  "type": "nisr",
  "year": "2002",
  "number": "158",
  "version": "current",
  "date": "2002-04-19",
  "revised": true,
  "valid_from": "2002-04-19",
  "extent": "N.I.",
  "unapplied_effects": 28,
  "provisions": [
    {
      "path": "introduction",
      "kind": "introduction",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Introductory text",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-declarations-of-parentage-rules-northern-ireland-2002/introduction",
      "extent": "N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "article/1",
      "kind": "article",
      "number": "1",
      "heading": "Citation and commencement",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-declarations-of-parentage-rules-northern-ireland-2002/article-1",
      "extent": "N.I.",
      "status": "prospective",
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "article/2",
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      "number": "2",
      "heading": "Citation and commencement",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-declarations-of-parentage-rules-northern-ireland-2002/article-2",
      "extent": "N.I.",
      "status": "prospective",
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "article/3",
      "kind": "article",
      "number": "3",
      "heading": "Interpretation",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-declarations-of-parentage-rules-northern-ireland-2002/article-3",
      "extent": "N.I.",
      "status": "prospective",
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "article/4",
      "kind": "article",
      "number": "4",
      "heading": "Interpretation",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-declarations-of-parentage-rules-northern-ireland-2002/article-4",
      "extent": "N.I.",
      "status": "prospective",
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "article/5",
      "kind": "article",
      "number": "5",
      "heading": "Application for declaration of parentage",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-declarations-of-parentage-rules-northern-ireland-2002/article-5",
      "extent": "N.I.",
      "status": "prospective",
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "article/6",
      "kind": "article",
      "number": "6",
      "heading": "Withdrawal",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-declarations-of-parentage-rules-northern-ireland-2002/article-6",
      "extent": "N.I.",
      "status": "prospective",
      "parent": null
    },
    {
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      "number": "7",
      "heading": "Acknowledgement of application",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-declarations-of-parentage-rules-northern-ireland-2002/article-7",
      "extent": "N.I.",
      "status": "prospective",
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "article/8",
      "kind": "article",
      "number": "8",
      "heading": "Intervention by the Attorney General",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-declarations-of-parentage-rules-northern-ireland-2002/article-8",
      "extent": "N.I.",
      "status": "prospective",
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "article/9",
      "kind": "article",
      "number": "9",
      "heading": "Intervention by the Attorney General",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-declarations-of-parentage-rules-northern-ireland-2002/article-9",
      "extent": "N.I.",
      "status": "prospective",
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "article/10",
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      "number": "10",
      "heading": "Directions",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-declarations-of-parentage-rules-northern-ireland-2002/article-10",
      "extent": "N.I.",
      "status": "prospective",
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    },
    {
      "path": "article/11",
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      "heading": "Parties",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-declarations-of-parentage-rules-northern-ireland-2002/article-11",
      "extent": "N.I.",
      "status": "prospective",
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "article/12",
      "kind": "article",
      "number": "12",
      "heading": "Transfer of proceedings",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-declarations-of-parentage-rules-northern-ireland-2002/article-12",
      "extent": "N.I.",
      "status": "prospective",
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "article/13",
      "kind": "article",
      "number": "13",
      "heading": "Transfer of proceedings",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-declarations-of-parentage-rules-northern-ireland-2002/article-13",
      "extent": "N.I.",
      "status": "prospective",
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "article/14",
      "kind": "article",
      "number": "14",
      "heading": "Declaration of parentage",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-declarations-of-parentage-rules-northern-ireland-2002/article-14",
      "extent": "N.I.",
      "status": "prospective",
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "article/15",
      "kind": "article",
      "number": "15",
      "heading": "Declaration of parentage",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-declarations-of-parentage-rules-northern-ireland-2002/article-15",
      "extent": "N.I.",
      "status": "prospective",
      "parent": null
    },
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      "number": "16",
      "heading": "Service",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-declarations-of-parentage-rules-northern-ireland-2002/article-16",
      "extent": "N.I.",
      "status": "prospective",
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "signature",
      "kind": "signature",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Signature",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-declarations-of-parentage-rules-northern-ireland-2002/signature",
      "extent": "N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "schedule",
      "kind": "schedule",
      "number": null,
      "heading": null,
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-declarations-of-parentage-rules-northern-ireland-2002/schedule",
      "extent": "N.I.",
      "status": "prospective",
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "note",
      "kind": "note",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Explanatory note",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-declarations-of-parentage-rules-northern-ireland-2002/note",
      "extent": "N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    }
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      "date": "2008-11-27",
      "size": null,
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-declarations-of-parentage-rules-northern-ireland-2002/pdf/nisr_20020158_en.pdf",
      "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2002/158/pdfs/nisr_20020158_en.pdf"
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  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2002/158",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T02:07:46.426854+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."
}