Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1907

Notices of consent to dissolution of civil partnership or separation of civil partners S

33A.18. (1) Where, in an action of dissolution of civil partnership or separation of civil partners in which the facts in section 117(3)(c) of the Act of 2004 (no cohabitation for [F1 one year] with consent of defender to decree) are relied on, the defender wishes to consent to the grant of decree of dissolution of civil partnership or separation of civil partners he shall do so by giving notice in writing in Form CP21 (dissolution) or Form CP23 (separation), as the case may be, to the sheriff clerk.

(2) The evidence of one witness shall be sufficient for the purpose of establishing that the signature on a notice of consent under paragraph (1) is that of the defender.

(3) In an action of dissolution of civil partnership or separation of civil partners where the initial writ includes, for the purposes of section 117(3)(c) of the Act of 2004, an averment that the defender consents to the grant of decree, the defender may give notice by letter sent to the sheriff clerk stating that he has not so consented or that he withdraws any consent which he has already given.

(4) On receipt of a letter under paragraph (3), the sheriff clerk shall intimate the terms of the letter to the pursuer.

(5) On receipt of any intimation under paragraph (4), the pursuer may, within 14 days after the date of the intimation, if none of the other facts mentioned in section 117(3) of the Act of 2004 is averred in the initial writ, lodge a motion for the action to be sisted.

(6) If no such motion is lodged, the pursuer shall be deemed to have abandoned the action and the action shall be dismissed.

(7) If a motion under paragraph (5) is granted and the sist is not recalled or renewed within a period of 6 months from the date of the interlocutor granting the sist, the pursuer shall be deemed to have abandoned the action and the action shall be dismissed.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Sch. 1 rule 33A.18(1) substituted (4.5.2006) by Act of Sederunt (Ordinary Cause Rules) Amendment (Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 etc.) 2006 (S.S.I. 2006/207), {rule 2(48)}