The Family Homes and Domestic Violence (Northern Ireland) Order 1998

Courts of summary jurisdiction

38.—(1) A court of summary jurisdiction shall not be competent to entertain any application, or make any order, involving any disputed question as to a party’s entitlement to occupy any property by virtue of a beneficial estate or a contract or by virtue of any statutory provision giving him the right to remain in occupation, unless it is unnecessary to determine the question in order to deal with the application or make the order.

(2) A court of summary jurisdiction may decline jurisdiction in any proceedings under this Order if it considers that the case can more conveniently be dealt with by another court.

(3) The powers of a court of summary jurisdiction under Article 112(2) of the [1981 NI 26.] Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 to suspend or rescind orders shall not apply in relation to any order made under this Order.

(4) A juvenile court (that is to say, a court of summary jurisdiction constituted in accordance with Schedule 2 to the [1968 c. 34 (N.I.).] Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968) sitting for the purpose of exercising any jurisdiction conferred by or under this Order may be known as a family proceedings court.