Matrimonial Causes (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (S.I. 1978/1045 (N.I. 15))N.I.
28(1)Insert after Article 2(4)—N.I.
“(4A)References in this Order to the formation of a civil partnership by a person include references to a civil partnership which is by law void or voidable.”
29N.I.In Article 13 (grounds on which marriage is void), at the end of paragraph (1)(d) insert “ or a civil partner ”.
30(1)Amend Article 17 (marriages governed by foreign law or celebrated abroad under certain enactments or common law) as follows.N.I.
(2)In paragraph (1), at the beginning insert “ Subject to paragraph (3) ”.
(3)After paragraph (2) insert—
“(3)No marriage is to be treated as valid by virtue of paragraph (1) if, at the time when it purports to have been celebrated, either party was already a civil partner.”
31(1)Amend Article 30 (duration of continuing financial provision orders in favour of party to marriage, and effect of remarriage) as follows.N.I.
(2)In paragraph (1)(a) and (b) after “remarriage of” insert “ , or formation of a civil partnership by, ”.
(3)In paragraph (2)—
(a)after “remarriage of” insert “ , or formation of a civil partnership by, ”, and
(b)after “the remarriage” insert “ or formation of the civil partnership ”.
(4)In paragraph (3), after “remarries whether at any time before or after the commencement of this Article”, insert “ or forms a civil partnership ”.
(5)In the heading to Article 30, after “remarriage” insert “ or formation of civil partnership ”.
32N.I.In Article 37 (alteration of agreements by court during lives of parties), in paragraph (4)(a) and (b), after “remarriage of” insert “ , or formation of a civil partnership by, ”.
33(1)Amend Article 40 (orders for repayment in certain cases of sums paid after cessation of order by reason of remarriage) as follows.N.I.
(2)In paragraph (1)—
(a)in sub-paragraph (a), after “remarriage of” insert “ , or formation of a civil partnership by, ”, and
(b)in sub-paragraph (b), after “remarriage” insert “ or formation of the civil partnership ”.
(3)In paragraph (6)—
(a)in sub-paragraph (a), after “remarriage of” insert “ , or formation of a civil partnership by, ”, and
(b)in the words following sub-paragraph (b), after “had remarried” insert “ or formed a civil partnership ”.
(4)In the heading to Article 40, after “remarriage” insert “ or formation of civil partnership ”.