The Family Proceedings Rules (Northern Ireland) 1996

Supplemental petition, pleadings and amendment of petition

2.13.—(1) A supplemental petition may be filed only with leave.

(2) A petition may be amended without leave before it is served but only with leave after it has been served.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), an application for leave under this rule—

(a) may, if every opposite party consents in writing to the supplemental petition being filed or the petition being amended, be made ex parte by lodging in the Matrimonial Office the supplemental petition or a copy of the petition as proposed to be amended, together with the appropriate consent, and

(b) shall, in any other case, be made by summons to be served, unless the court otherwise directs, on every opposite party.

(4) The Master may, if he thinks fit, require an application for leave to be supported by an affidavit.

(5) An order granting leave shall—

(a) where any party has given notice of intention to defend, fix the time within which his answer must be filed or amended,

(b) where the order is made after the certificate of readiness has been lodged, provide for a stay of the hearing until after the certificate has been renewed.

(6) An amendment authorised to be made under this rule shall be made by filing a copy of the amended petition.

(7) Rules 2.5 and 2.8 shall apply to a supplemental or amended petition as they apply to the original petition.

(8) Unless the court otherwise directs, a copy of a supplemental or amended petition, together with a copy of the order (if any) made under this rule shall be served on every respondent and co-respondent named in the original petition or in the supplemental or amended petition.

(9) Rules 2.9 and 2.10 shall apply to a respondent or co-respondent named in the original petition or in the supplemental or amended petition as they apply in relation to a person required to be served with an original petition.