The Matrimonial and Family Proceedings (Northern Ireland) Order 1989

Jurisdiction of the court N.I.

19.—(1) Subject to [F1 paragraphs (1A) and (2)], the court shall have jurisdiction to entertain an application for an order for financial relief if any of the following jurisdictional requirements are satisfied, that is to say—

(a) either of the parties to the marriage was domiciled in Northern Ireland on the date of the application for leave under Article 17 or was so domiciled on the date on which the divorce, annulment or legal separation obtained in the overseas country took effect in that country; or

(b) either of the parties to the marriage was habitually resident in Northern Ireland throughout the period of one year ending with the date of the application for leave or was so resident throughout the period of one year ending with the date on which the divorce, annulment or legal separation obtained in the overseas country took effect in that country; or

(c) either or both of the parties to the marriage had at the date of the application for leave a beneficial interest in possession in a dwelling-house situated in Northern Ireland which was at some time during the marriage a matrimonial home of the parties to the marriage.

[F2 (1A) If an application or part of an application for an order under this Part relates to a matter where jurisdiction falls to be determined by reference to the jurisdictional requirements of the Maintenance Regulation and Schedule 6 to the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments (Maintenance) Regulations 2011, those requirements are to determine whether the court has jurisdiction to entertain the application or that part of it.]

(2) Where the jurisdiction of the court to entertain proceedings under this Part would fall to be determined by reference to the jurisdictional requirements imposed by virtue of Part I of the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982F3 (implementation of certain European conventions)[F4 F5 . . . or] then—

(a) satisfaction of the requirements of paragraph (1) shall not obviate the need to satisfy the requirements imposed by virtue of[F4 that Regulation or] Part I of that Act; and

(b) satisfaction of the requirements imposed by virtue of[F4 that Regulation or] Part I of that Act shall obviate the need to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (1);

and the court shall entertain or not entertain the proceedings accordingly.

[F6 (3) “The Maintenance Regulation” means Council Regulation (EC) No 4/2009 including as applied in relation to Denmark by virtue of the Agreement made on 19th October 2005 between the European Community and the Kingdom of Denmark.]

F1 Words in art. 19(1) substituted (18.6.2011) by Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments (Maintenance) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/1484), reg. 9, Sch. 7 para. 21(2)(a)

F2 Art. 19(1A) inserted (18.6.2011) by Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments (Maintenance) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/1484), reg. 9, Sch. 7 para. 21(2)(b)

F3 1982 c. 27

F4 SI 2001/3929

F5 Words in art. 19(2) repealed (18.6.2011) by Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments (Maintenance) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/1484), reg. 9, Sch. 7 para. 21(2)(c)

F6 Art. 19(3) inserted (18.6.2011) by Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments (Maintenance) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/1484), reg. 9, Sch. 7 para. 21(2)(d)