{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/matrimonial-and-family-proceedings-act-1984/section-27",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/matrimonial-and-family-proceedings-act-1984/section-27.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1984/42",
  "legislation_title": "Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/matrimonial-and-family-proceedings-act-1984",
  "path": "section/27",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "27",
  "heading": "Interpretation of Part III.",
  "text": "In this Part of this Act—\n“the 1973 Act” means the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973;\n“child of the family” has the same meaning as in section 52(1) of the 1973 Act;\n“the court” means the High Court or the family court;\n“dwelling-house” includes any building or part thereof which is occupied as a dwelling, and any yard, garden, garage or outhouse belonging to the dwelling-house and occupied therewith;\n“order for financial relief” has the meaning given by section 12(4) above;\n“overseas country” means a country or territory outside the British Islands;\n“possession” includes receipt of, or the right to receive, rents and profits;\n“property adjustment order” means such an order as is specified in section 24(1)(a), (b), (c) or (d) of the 1973 Act;\n“rent” does not include mortgage interest;\n“secured periodical payments order” means such an order as is specified in section 23(1)(b) or (e) of the 1973 Act.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 27 substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 11 para. 88; S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(e) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/42/section/27",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-06T03:34:50.317478+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."
}