The Family Law (Northern Ireland) Order 1993

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order relates to family law in Northern Ireland.

Article 3 abolishes the requirement for certain press notices in respect of marriages in register offices.

Article 4 relaxes the restrictions on marriages within prohibited degrees of relationships, mainly between “in-laws”, if certain requirements are satisfied, and Article 5 enables the parties to an intended marriage within certain degrees of affinity to seek a declaration to the effect that the marriage would not be void by reason of the prohibited degrees.

Articles 6 to 11 make provision as to the methods of payment, and the variation of the methods of payment, under maintenance orders, including maintenance orders registered in, or confirmed by, courts of summary jurisdiction or registered in the High Court.

Article 12 establishes a new rules committee in relation to family proceedings in the High Court and county courts.

Articles 13 and 14(2) transfer functions under certain provisions from the Secretary of State to the Lord Chancellor and from justices of the peace to resident magistrates.

Article 14(1) makes breach of a personal protection order or an exclusion order a criminal offence.

Article 15 disapplies the requirement for the petitioner’s oral testimony in divorce cases where the petition alleges two years' separation and the respondent consents to a decree being granted or where the petition alleges five years' separation.