Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1973

7 Jurisdiction of Court of Session. S

(1) Subsections [F1 (2A) to (10)] below shall have effect, subject to section 12(6) of this Act, with respect to the jurisdiction of the Court of Session to entertain—

(a) an action for divorce, separation, declarator of nullity of marriage [F2 or], declarator of marriage, F3 ... ; and

[F4 (aa) an action for declarator of recognition, or non-recognition, of a relevant foreign decree.]

(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F5

F6 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F7 (2A) The Court shall have jurisdiction to entertain an action for divorce or separation if (and only if) [F8 either of the parties to the marriage]–

[F9 (a) is domiciled in Scotland on the date when the action is begun, or

(b) was habitually resident in Scotland throughout the period of one year ending with that date.]]

(3) The Court shall have jurisdiction to entertain an action for declarator of marriage F10 . . . if (and only if) either of the parties to the marriage—

(a) is domiciled in Scotland on the date when the action is begun; or

(b) was habitually resident in Scotland throughout the period of one year ending with that date; or

(c) died before that date and either—

(i) was at death domiciled in Scotland, or

(ii) had been habitually resident in Scotland throughout the period of one year ending with the date of death.

[F11 (3A) The Court shall have jurisdiction to entertain an action for declarator of nullity of marriage [F12 or for declarator of recognition, or non-recognition, of a relevant foreign decree] if (and only if) [F13 either of the parties to the marriage] –

F14 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F14 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F15 (a) is domiciled in Scotland on the date when the action is begun,

(b) was habitually resident in Scotland throughout the period of one year ending with that date, or

(c) died before that date and either—

(i) was at death domiciled in Scotland, or

(ii) had been habitually resident in Scotland throughout the period of one year ending with the date of death.]

F16 (3B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

F5 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) The Court shall, at any time when proceedings are pending in respect of which it has jurisdiction by virtue of subsection 2 [F17 , (2A), (3) or (3A) above] (or of this subsection), also have jurisdiction to entertain other proceedings, in respect of the same marriage, for divorce, separation or declarator of marriage [F18 or], declarator of nullity of marriage F19 ..., notwithstanding that jurisdiction would not be exercisable [F20 under any of those subsections].

F21 (5A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) Nothing in this section affects the rules governing the jurisdiction of the Court of Session to entertain, in an action for divorce, an application for payment by a co-defender of damages or expenses.

(7) The foregoing provisions of this section are without prejudice to any rule of law whereby the Court of Session has jurisdiction in certain circumstances to entertain actions for separation as a matter of necessity and urgency.

(8) No action for divorce in respect of a marriage shall be entertained by the Court of Session by virtue of [F22 this section] while proceedings for divorce or nullity of marriage, begun before the commencement of this Act, are pending (in respect of the same marriage) in England and Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man; and provision may be made by rules of court as to when, for the purposes of this subsection, proceedings are to be treated as begun or pending in any of those places.

[F23 (9) In this section, “relevant foreign decree” means a decree of divorce, nullity or separation granted outwith [F24 the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man].

(10) References in subsection (3A) to a marriage shall, in the case of an action for declarator of recognition, or non-recognition, of a relevant foreign decree, be construed as references to the marriage to which the relevant foreign decree relates.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 7(1) substituted (4.5.2006) by Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 2), ss. 37(2)(a)(i), 46(2); S.S.I. 2006/212, art. 2 (with art. 4)

F2 Word in s. 7(1)(a) inserted (4.5.2006) by Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 2), s. 46(2), Sch. 2 para. 1(a)(i); S.S.I. 2006/212, art. 2 (with art. 4)

F3 Words in s. 7(1)(a) repealed (4.5.2006) by Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 2), s. 46(2), Sch. 2 para. 1(a)(ii); S.S.I. 2006/212, art. 2 (with art. 4)

F4 S. 7(1)(aa) inserted (4.5.2006) by Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 2), ss. 37(2)(a)(ii), 46(2); S.S.I. 2006/212, art. 2 (with art. 4)

F5 S. 7(1)(b), (4) repealed by Presumption of Death (Scotland) Act 1977 (c. 27, SIF 116:2), s. 19, Sch. 2

F6 S. 7(2) repealed (4.5.2006) by Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 2), s. 46(2), Sch. 2 para. 1(b); S.S.I. 2006/212, art. 2 (with art. 4)

F7 S. 7(2A) inserted (1.3.2001) by S.S.I. 2001/36, reg. 2(2)(b) (with reg. 6)

F8 Words in s. 7(2A) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Jurisdiction and Judgments (Family, Civil Partnership and Marriage (Same Sex Couples)) (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2019 (S.S.I. 2019/104), reg. 1, sch. 1 para. 1(2)(a)(i) (with reg. 6) (as amended by S.S.I. 2020/441, regs. 1(2)(a), 16); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F9 S. 7(2A)(a)(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Jurisdiction and Judgments (Family, Civil Partnership and Marriage (Same Sex Couples)) (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2019 (S.S.I. 2019/104), reg. 1, sch. 1 para. 1(2)(a)(ii) (with reg. 6) (as amended by S.S.I. 2020/441, regs. 1(2)(a), 16); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F10 Words in s. 7(3) repealed (1.3.2001) by S.S.I. 2001/36, reg. 2(2)(c) (with reg. 6)

F11 S. 7(3A)(3B) inserted (1.3.2001) by S.S.I. 2001/36, reg. 2(2)(d) (with reg. 6)

F12 Words in s. 7(3A) inserted (4.5.2006) by Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 2), ss. 37(2)(b), 46(2); S.S.I. 2006/212, art. 2 (with art. 4)

F13 Words in s. 7(3A) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Jurisdiction and Judgments (Family, Civil Partnership and Marriage (Same Sex Couples)) (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2019 (S.S.I. 2019/104), reg. 1, sch. 1 para. 1(2)(b)(i) (with reg. 6) (as amended by S.S.I. 2020/441, regs. 1(2)(a), 16); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F14 Words in s. 7(3A) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Jurisdiction and Judgments (Family, Civil Partnership and Marriage (Same Sex Couples)) (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2019 (S.S.I. 2019/104), reg. 1, sch. 1 para. 1(2)(b)(ii) (with reg. 6) (as amended by S.S.I. 2020/441, regs. 1(2)(a), 16); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F15 Words in s. 7(3A) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Jurisdiction and Judgments (Family, Civil Partnership and Marriage (Same Sex Couples)) (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2019 (S.S.I. 2019/104), reg. 1, sch. 1 para. 1(2)(b)(iii) (with reg. 6) (as amended by S.S.I. 2020/441, regs. 1(2)(a), 16); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F16 S. 7(3B) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Jurisdiction and Judgments (Family, Civil Partnership and Marriage (Same Sex Couples)) (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2019 (S.S.I. 2019/104), reg. 1, sch. 1 para. 1(2)(c) (with reg. 6) (as amended by S.S.I. 2020/441, regs. 1(2)(a), 16); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F17 Words in s. 7(5) substituted (1.3.2001) by S.S.I. 2001/36, reg. 2(2)(e)(i) (with reg. 6)

F18 Word in s. 7(5) inserted (4.5.2006) by Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 2), s. 46(2), Sch. 2 para. 1(c)(i); S.S.I. 2006/212, art. 2 (with art. 4)

F19 Words in s. 7(5) repealed (4.5.2006) by Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 2), s. 46(2), Sch. 2 para. 1(c)(ii); S.S.I. 2006/212, art. 2 (with art. 4)

F20 Words in s. 7(5) substituted (1.3.2001) by S.S.I. 2001/36, reg. 2(2)(e)(ii) (with reg. 6)

F21 S. 7(5A) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Jurisdiction and Judgments (Family, Civil Partnership and Marriage (Same Sex Couples)) (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2019 (S.S.I. 2019/104), reg. 1, sch. 1 para. 1(2)(d) (with reg. 6) (as amended by S.S.I. 2020/441, regs. 1(2)(a), 16); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F22 Words in s. 7(8) substituted (1.3.2001) by S.S.I. 2001/36, reg. 2(2)(g) (with reg. 6)

F23 S. 7(9)(10) added (4.5.2006) by Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 2), ss. 37(2)(c), 46(2); S.S.I. 2006/212, art. 2 (with art. 4)

F24 Words in s. 7(9) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Jurisdiction and Judgments (Family, Civil Partnership and Marriage (Same Sex Couples)) (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2019 (S.S.I. 2019/104), reg. 1, sch. 1 para. 1(2)(e) (with reg. 6) (as amended by S.S.I. 2020/441, regs. 1(2)(a), 16); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)