{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-rules-1981/rule-20",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-rules-1981/rule-20.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/1981/552",
  "legislation_title": "The Magistrates' Courts Rules 1981",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-rules-1981",
  "path": "rule/20",
  "kind": "rule",
  "number": "20",
  "heading": "Representations after application without notice",
  "text": "(1) This rule applies where the court makes a domestic abuse protection order—\n(a) otherwise than as a result of a person being given a domestic abuse protection notice; and\n(b) without notice to the defendant.\n(2) The court must arrange a hearing at which the defendant may make representations to the court.\n(3) Notice of the hearing—\n(a) must be given to the applicant for the order; and\n(b) must be served on the defendant with the order.\n(4) If the defendant makes representations at the hearing—\n(a) the court must treat such representations as a complaint;\n(b) the court may exercise its powers to vary or discharge the domestic abuse protection order; and\n(c) rule 21 (application to vary or discharge order) does not apply.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": "repealed",
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Rules 17-23 and cross-heading (previously omitted by virtue of S.I. 2021/626, rule 2(12)(c)(d)) inserted (8.4.2024) by The Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules 2024 (S.I. 2024/254), rules 1(2), 2(6)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1981/552/rule/20",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T18:40:56.682539+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."
}