{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/matrimonial-proceedings-and-property-act-1970",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/matrimonial-proceedings-and-property-act-1970.json",
  "id": "ukpga/1970/45",
  "title": "Matrimonial Proceedings And Property Act 1970",
  "short_title": "Matrimonial Proceedings And Property Act 1970",
  "long_title": "An Act to make fresh provision for empowering the court in matrimonial proceedings to make orders ordering either spouse to make financial provision for, or transfer property to, the other spouse or a child of the family, orders for the variation of ante-nuptial and post-nuptial settlements, orders for the custody and education of children and orders varying, discharging or suspending orders made in such proceedings; to make other amendments of the law relating to matrimonial proceedings; to abolish the right to claim restitution of conjugal rights; to declare what interest in property is acquired by a spouse who contributes to its improvement; to make provision as to a spouse’s rights of occupation under section 1 of the Matrimonial Homes Act 1967 in certain cases; to extend section 17 of the Married Women’s Property Act 1882 and section 7 of the Matrimonial Causes (Property and Maintenance) Act 1958; to amend the law about the property of a person whose marriage is the subject of a decree of judicial separation dying intestate; to abolish the agency of necessity of a wife; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid.",
  "citation": "1970 c. 45",
  "type": "ukpga",
  "year": "1970",
  "number": "45",
  "version": "current",
  "date": "1970-05-29",
  "revised": true,
  "valid_from": "2014-04-22",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "unapplied_effects": 0,
  "provisions": [
    {
      "path": "introduction",
      "kind": "introduction",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Introductory text",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/matrimonial-proceedings-and-property-act-1970/introduction",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
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      "path": "part/I",
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      "number": "I",
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      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
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      "path": "section/18",
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      "number": "1—8",
      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/matrimonial-proceedings-and-property-act-1970/section-18",
      "extent": null,
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": "part/I"
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    {
      "path": "part/I/crossheading/provisions-as-to-variation-discharge-and-enforcement-of-certain-orders",
      "kind": "crossheading",
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      "heading": "Provisions as to variation, discharge and enforcement of certain orders",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
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    },
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      "path": "section/911.",
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      "number": "9—11",
      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/matrimonial-proceedings-and-property-act-1970/section-911.",
      "extent": null,
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": "part/I/crossheading/provisions-as-to-variation-discharge-and-enforcement-of-certain-orders"
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      "path": "section/12",
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      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/matrimonial-proceedings-and-property-act-1970/section-12",
      "extent": null,
      "status": "repealed",
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    },
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      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/matrimonial-proceedings-and-property-act-1970/section-1329.",
      "extent": null,
      "status": "repealed",
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      "path": "part/II",
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      "number": "II",
      "heading": "Miscellaneous Provisions",
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      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "part/II/crossheading/provisions-relating-to-orders-made-by-magistrates-courts-in-matrimonial-proceedings",
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      "heading": "Provisions relating to orders made by magistrates’ courts in matrimonial proceedings",
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      "heading": "Order for maintenance of party to marriage made by magistrates’ court to cease to have effect on remarriage of that party.",
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      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/matrimonial-proceedings-and-property-act-1970/section-3133.",
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    {
      "path": "section/3435.",
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      "number": "34—35",
      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/matrimonial-proceedings-and-property-act-1970/section-3435.",
      "extent": null,
      "status": "repealed",
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      "path": "section/36",
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      "number": "36",
      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/matrimonial-proceedings-and-property-act-1970/section-36",
      "extent": null,
      "status": "repealed",
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    {
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      "heading": "Provisions relating to property of married persons",
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    },
    {
      "path": "section/37",
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      "number": "37",
      "heading": "Contributions by spouse in money or money’s worth to the improvement of property.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/matrimonial-proceedings-and-property-act-1970/section-37",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
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    {
      "path": "section/38",
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      "number": "38",
      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/matrimonial-proceedings-and-property-act-1970/section-38",
      "extent": null,
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      "heading": "Extension of s. 17 of Married Women’s Property Act 1882.",
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      "extent": null,
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      "heading": ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/matrimonial-proceedings-and-property-act-1970/section-40",
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      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/matrimonial-proceedings-and-property-act-1970/section-41",
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      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/matrimonial-proceedings-and-property-act-1970/section-42",
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      "heading": "†Citation, commencement and extent.",
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      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/matrimonial-proceedings-and-property-act-1970/schedule-1",
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    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:50:56.452167+00:00"
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  "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."
}