{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005.json",
  "id": "nisr/2005/559",
  "title": "The Magistrates' Courts (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2005",
  "short_title": "Magistrates' Courts 2005",
  "long_title": "These Rules make amendments to two sets of rules, which apply in proceedings in magistrates' courts, in consequence of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33). The Civil Partnership Act 2004 introduces a statutory civil registration procedure to allow same-sex couples to make a formal, legal commitment to each other by entering into a civil partnership. The Rules amend the Magistrates' Courts (Domestic Proceedings) Rules (Northern Ireland) 1996 to prescribe the procedures for proceedings under Schedule 16 to the 2004 Act. They also make minor consequential amendments to forms prescribed in the Magistrates' Courts (Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995) Rules (Northern Ireland) 1996.",
  "citation": "S.R. 2005/559",
  "type": "nisr",
  "year": "2005",
  "number": "559",
  "version": "current",
  "date": "2005-12-12",
  "revised": false,
  "valid_from": null,
  "extent": null,
  "unapplied_effects": 0,
  "provisions": [
    {
      "path": "introduction",
      "kind": "introduction",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Introductory text",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/introduction",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "part/I",
      "kind": "part",
      "number": "I",
      "heading": "CITATION AND COMMENCEMENT",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "rule/1",
      "kind": "rule",
      "number": "1",
      "heading": "Citation and commencement",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/rule-1",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/I"
    },
    {
      "path": "part/II",
      "kind": "part",
      "number": "II",
      "heading": "AMENDMENT TO THE MAGISTRATES' COURTS (CHILDREN (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1995) RULES (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1996",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "rule/2",
      "kind": "rule",
      "number": "2",
      "heading": null,
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/rule-2",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/II"
    },
    {
      "path": "rule/3",
      "kind": "rule",
      "number": "3",
      "heading": null,
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/rule-3",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/II"
    },
    {
      "path": "rule/4",
      "kind": "rule",
      "number": "4",
      "heading": null,
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/rule-4",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/II"
    },
    {
      "path": "rule/5",
      "kind": "rule",
      "number": "5",
      "heading": null,
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/rule-5",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/II"
    },
    {
      "path": "rule/6",
      "kind": "rule",
      "number": "6",
      "heading": null,
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/rule-6",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/II"
    },
    {
      "path": "rule/7",
      "kind": "rule",
      "number": "7",
      "heading": null,
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/rule-7",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/II"
    },
    {
      "path": "rule/8",
      "kind": "rule",
      "number": "8",
      "heading": null,
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/rule-8",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/II"
    },
    {
      "path": "rule/9",
      "kind": "rule",
      "number": "9",
      "heading": null,
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/rule-9",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/II"
    },
    {
      "path": "part/III",
      "kind": "part",
      "number": "III",
      "heading": "AMENDMENT TO THE MAGISTRATES' COURTS (DOMESTIC PROCEEDINGS) RULES (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1996",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "rule/10",
      "kind": "rule",
      "number": "10",
      "heading": null,
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/rule-10",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/III"
    },
    {
      "path": "rule/11",
      "kind": "rule",
      "number": "11",
      "heading": null,
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/rule-11",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/III"
    },
    {
      "path": "rule/12",
      "kind": "rule",
      "number": "12",
      "heading": null,
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/rule-12",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/III"
    },
    {
      "path": "rule/13",
      "kind": "rule",
      "number": "13",
      "heading": null,
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/rule-13",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/III"
    },
    {
      "path": "rule/14",
      "kind": "rule",
      "number": "14",
      "heading": null,
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/rule-14",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/III"
    },
    {
      "path": "rule/15",
      "kind": "rule",
      "number": "15",
      "heading": null,
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/rule-15",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/III"
    },
    {
      "path": "rule/16",
      "kind": "rule",
      "number": "16",
      "heading": null,
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/rule-16",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/III"
    },
    {
      "path": "rule/17",
      "kind": "rule",
      "number": "17",
      "heading": null,
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/rule-17",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/III"
    },
    {
      "path": "rule/18",
      "kind": "rule",
      "number": "18",
      "heading": null,
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/rule-18",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/III"
    },
    {
      "path": "rule/19",
      "kind": "rule",
      "number": "19",
      "heading": null,
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/rule-19",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/III"
    },
    {
      "path": "rule/20",
      "kind": "rule",
      "number": "20",
      "heading": null,
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/rule-20",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/III"
    },
    {
      "path": "rule/21",
      "kind": "rule",
      "number": "21",
      "heading": null,
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/rule-21",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/III"
    },
    {
      "path": "part/IV",
      "kind": "part",
      "number": "IV",
      "heading": "TRANSITIONAL PROVISION",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "rule/22",
      "kind": "rule",
      "number": "22",
      "heading": "Transitional Provision",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/rule-22",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "part/IV"
    },
    {
      "path": "signature",
      "kind": "signature",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Signature",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/signature",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "schedule/1",
      "kind": "schedule",
      "number": "1",
      "heading": "FORM TO BE INSERTED IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURTS (CHILDREN (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1995) RULES (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1996",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/schedule-1",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "schedule/2",
      "kind": "schedule",
      "number": "2",
      "heading": "FORM TO BE SUBSTITUTED IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURTS (CHILDREN (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1995) RULES (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1996",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/schedule-2",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "schedule/3",
      "kind": "schedule",
      "number": "3",
      "heading": "FORM TO BE INSERTED IN SCHEDULE 1 TO THE MAGISTRATES' COURTS (DOMESTIC PROCEEDINGS) RULES (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1996",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/schedule-3",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "schedule/4",
      "kind": "schedule",
      "number": "4",
      "heading": "FORM TO BE SUBSTITUTED IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURTS (DOMESTIC PROCEEDINGS) RULES (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1996",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/schedule-4",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "note",
      "kind": "note",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Explanatory note",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/note",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    }
  ],
  "has_text": true,
  "pdfs": [
    {
      "title": "Printed copy",
      "main": true,
      "language": null,
      "date": "2008-12-08",
      "size": null,
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/pdf/nisr_20050559_en.pdf",
      "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2005/559/pdfs/nisr_20050559_en.pdf"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "made_under": [
    {
      "id": "nisi/1981/1675",
      "title": "The Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-northern-ireland-order-1981",
      "provisions": [
        "article/13"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "nisi/1995/755",
      "title": "The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/children-northern-ireland-order-1995",
      "provisions": [
        "article/165"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "changes_made_to": 0,
  "changes_made_to_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/changes.json",
  "changes_made_by": 74,
  "changes_made_by_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/changes/by-it.json",
  "instruments_made_under": 0,
  "instruments_made_under_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-miscellaneous-amendments-rules-northern-ireland-2005/instruments.json",
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2005/559",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T01:49:17.636135+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."
}