The Family Proceedings Rules (Northern Ireland) 1996

Transfer of application for ancillary relief: general provisions

2.67.—(1) If a county court considers that an application for ancillary relief pending in that court gives rise to a contested issue of conduct of a nature which is likely materially to affect the question whether any, or what, order should be made therein and that for that reason the application should be transferred to the High Court, the court shall, subject to paragraph (5), make an order for transfer accordingly and, where an application is transferred to the High Court under this paragraph, it shall be heard by a judge.

(2) Where an application for ancillary relief is pending in a county court and the parties to the proceedings consent to the making of an order for the transfer of the application to the High Court, an application for that purpose may be made to the Master who shall, subject to paragraph (5), either order the transfer or refer the application to the judge for his decision.

(3) Without prejudice to paragraph (1) and (2), the court in which an application for ancillary relief is pending may, if it is a county court, order the transfer of the application to the High Court or, if it is the High Court, order the transfer of the application to a county court, where the transfer appears to the court to be desirable.

(4) The judge before hearing and the Master before investigating under rule 2.64 an application for ancillary relief pending in a county court shall consider whether the case is one in which the court should exercise any of its powers under paragraph (1) or (3).

(5) In considering whether an application should be transferred from a county court to the High Court or from the High Court to a county court, the court shall have regard to all relevant considerations, including the nature and value of the property involved and the relief sought.

(6) Where a decree nisi has been pronounced in the cause, the court shall, before making an order for the transfer of the application to the High Court, consider whether it would be more convenient to transfer the cause to the High Court under rule 2.32.

(7) Where an application for ancillary relief is pending in a county court, the court may order that the application be transferred to another county court.

(8) An order under paragraph (1), (3) or (7) may be made by the court of its own motion or on the application of a party, but before making an order of its own motion the court shall give the parties an opportunity of being heard, and for that purpose shall cause notice to be given to the parties of the date, time and place at which the question will be considered.