The Matrimonial and Family Proceedings (Northern Ireland) Order 1989

Declarations as to legitimacy or legitimation

32.—(1) Any person may apply to the court for a declaration that he is the legitimate child of his parents.

(2) Any person may apply to the court for one (or for one or, in the alternative, the other) of the following declarations, that is to say—

(a) a declaration that he has become a legitimated person;

(b) a declaration that he has not become a legitimated person.

(3) A court shall have jurisdiction to entertain an application under paragraph (1) or (2) if (and only if) the applicant—

(a) is domiciled in Northern Ireland on the date of the application, or

(b) has been habitually resident in Northern Ireland throughout the period of one year ending with that date.

(4) In this Article “legitimated person” means a person legitimated or recognised as legitimated—

(a) under section 1 or 8 of the Legitimacy Act (Northern Ireland) 1928(1) ; or

(b) by a legitimation (whether or not by virtue of the subsequent marriage of his parents) recognised by the law of Northern Ireland and effected under the law of any other country.

(1)

1928 c. 5 (N.I.)