Child Maintenance Act (Northern Ireland) 2008

1. Introduction

2. Background and Policy Objectives

3. Consultation

4. Options Considered

5. Overview

6. Commentary on Sections

   1. Part 1: Additional functions of the Department

      1. Section 1: Promotion of child maintenance

      2. Section 2: Provision of information and guidance

      3. Section 3: Fees

      4. Section 4: Agency arrangements and provision of services

      5. Section 5: Contracting out

      6. Section 6: Supplementary provisions

   2. Part 2 – Child Support etc.

      1. Removal of compulsion for benefit claimants

         1. Section 7: Repeal of Articles 9 and 43

      2. Maintenance calculations

         1. Section 8: Changes to the calculation of maintenance

         2. Section 9: Power to regulate supersession

         3. Section 10: Determination of applications for a variation

         4. Section 11: Transfer of cases to new rules

      3. Collection and enforcement

         1. Section 12: Use of deduction from earnings orders as basic method of payment

         2. Section 13: Deduction from earnings orders: the liable person’s earnings

         3. Section 14: Orders for regular deductions from accounts

         4. Section 15: Lump sum deduction orders

         5. Section 16: Orders preventing avoidance

         6. Section 17: Administrative liability orders

         7. Section 18: Disqualification for holding or obtaining a travel authorisation

         8. Section 19: Curfew orders

         9. Section 20: Commitment to prison

         10. Section 21: Disqualification for driving

      4. Debt management powers

         1. Section 22: Power to treat liability as satisfied

         2. Section 23: Power to accept part payment of arrears in full and final satisfaction

         3. Section 24: Power to write off arrears

         4. Section 25: Transfer of arrears

      5. Miscellaneous

         1. Section 26: Meaning of “child”

         2. Section 27: Notification of Change of Address

         3. Section 28: Additional special case

         4. Section 29: Recovery of arrears from deceased’s estate

         5. Section 30: Disclosure of information relating to family proceedings

         6. Section 31: Disclosure of information to credit reference agencies

         7. Section 32: Pilot schemes

         8. Section 33: Extinction of liability in respect of interest and fees

         9. Section 34: Use of information

         10. Section 35: Liable relative provisions: exclusion of parental duty to maintain

   3. Part 3 - General

      1. Section 36: Regulations

      2. Section 37: General interpretation

      3. Section 38: Minor and consequential amendments

      4. Section 39: Repeals

      5. Section 40: Transition

      6. Section 41: Commencement

      7. Section 42: Short title

      8. Schedule 1: Changes to the calculation of maintenance

      9. Schedule 2: Maintenance calculations: transfer of cases to new rules

      10. Schedule 3: Use of information

          1. Powers in relation to use of information

      11. Schedule 4: Minor and consequential amendments

      12. Schedule 5: Repeals

7. Hansard Reports