Explanatory note

These Rules make provision, in relation to magistrates' courts, for the various matters which are to be prescribed under Part II of the Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972, for the giving of notice of things done under that part of the Act and for adapting the procedure on the hearing of a complaint where the hearing is in the absence of the complainant.

In particular, the Rules prescribe the manner in which maintenance orders are to be registered and enforced in magistrates' courts and the manner in which evidence is to be taken at the request of a court in a convention country.