Family Law Act 1986

23 Duration and variation of custody orders. N.I.

(1) If a [F1 Part I order] made by a court in England and Wales or Scotland (or a variation of such an order) comes into force with respect to a child at a time when a [F1 Part I order] made by a court in Northern Ireland has effect with respect to him, the latter order shall cease to have effect so far as it makes provision for any matter for which the same or different provision is made by (or by the variation of) the order made by the court in England and Wales or Scotland.

(2) Where by virtue of subsection (1) above a [F1 Part I order] has ceased to have effect so far as it makes provision for any matter, a court in Northern Ireland shall not have jurisdiction to vary that order so as to make provision for that matter.

(3) A court in Northern Ireland shall not have jurisdiction—

(a) to vary a [F1 Part I order], other than one made under Article 45(1)(a) of the M1 Matrimonial Causes (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, or

(b) after the grant of a decree of judicial separation, to vary a [F1 Part I order] made under Article 45(1)(a) of that Order,

if, on the relevant date, proceedings for divorce, nullity or judicial separation are continuing in England and Wales or Scotland in respect of the marriage of the parents of the child concerned.

(4) Subsection (3) above shall not apply if the court in which the proceedings there referred to are continuing has made—

(a) an order under section [F2 2A(4)] or 13(6) of this Act (not being an order made by virtue of section 13(6)(a)(i)), or

(b) an order under section 5(2) or 14(2) of this Act which is recorded as made for the purpose of enabling [F3 Part I proceedings with respect to] the child concerned to be taken in Northern Ireland,

and that order is in force.

(5) Subsection (3) above shall not apply in the case of a variation of a [F1 Part I order] within [F4 section 1(1)(e)] of this Act if the ward is present in Northern Ireland on the relevant date and the court considers that the immediate exercise of its powers is necessary for his protection.

(6) Where any person who is entitled to the actual possession of a child under a [F1 Part I order] made by a court in Northern Ireland ceases to be so entitled by virtue of subsection (1) above, then, if there is in force an order for the supervision of that child made under—

(a) Article 47 of the Matrimonial Causes (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, or

(b) Article 11 of the M2 Domestic Proceedings (Northern Ireland) Order 1980,

that order shall also cease to have effect.

(7) In this section “the relevant date” means—

(a) where an application is made for a variation, the date of the application (or first application, if two or more are determined together), and

(b) where no such application is made, the date of the variation.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 23(1)-(3)(5)-(6) substituted (14.10.1991) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 108, Sch. 13 para. 62(2)(a) (with Sch. 14 para. 1(1)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)

F2 Figure in s. 23(4)(a) substituted (14.10.1991) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 108, Sch. 13 para. 68(e) (with Sch. 14 para. 1(1)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)

F3 Words in s. 23(4)(b) substituted (14.10.1991) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 108, Sch. 13 para. 62(2)(b) (with Sch. 14 para. 1(1)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)

F4 Figure in s. 23(5) substituted (14.10.1991) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 108, Sch. 13 para. 69(b) (with Sch. 14 para. 1(1); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)

Marginal Citations

M1 S.I. 1978/1045 (N.I. 15).

M2 S.I. 1980/563 (N.I. 5).