Matrimonial Causes Act 1965

1965 CHAPTER 72

[F1 An Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to matrimonial causes, maintenance and declarations of legitimacy and British nationality, with corrections and improvements made under the Consolidation of Enactments (Procedure) Act 1949.]

[8th November 1965]

Textual Amendments

F1 Long title repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3 but reproduced for the purpose of constraining the remaining provisions of this Act

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Words of enactment repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), Sch. 3

Part I E+W Divorce, nullity and other matrimonial suits

Divorce E+W

F2 1—7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W

Textual Amendments

F2 Ss. 1–8(1), 9–24, 25(2)(3) repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3

8 Remarriage of divorced persons. E+W

F3 (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) No clergyman of the Church of England or the Church in Wales shall be compelled—

(a) to solemnise the marriage of any person whose former marriage has been dissolved and whose former spouse is still living; or

(b) to permit the marriage of such a person to be solemnised in the church or chapel of which he is the minister.

Textual Amendments

F3 Ss. 1–8(1), 9–24, 25(2)(3) repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3

F4 9—14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W

Textual Amendments

F4 Ss. 1–8(1), 9–24, 25(2)(3) repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3

Part II E+W Ancillary relief

F5 15—22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W

Textual Amendments

F5 Ss. 1–8(1), 9–24, 25(2)(3) repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3

Maintenance agreements E+W

F6 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W

Textual Amendments

F6 Ss. 1–8(1), 9–24, 25(2)(3) repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3

F7 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W

Textual Amendments

F7 Ss. 1–8(1), 9–24, 25(2)(3) repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3

25 Alteration of agreements by court after death of one party. E+W

F8 (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F8 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F8 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F9 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F9 (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F8 Ss. 1–8(1), 9–24, 25(1)-(3) repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3

F9 S. 25(4)(5) repealed except as applied by s. 28(2) of this Act by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3; and s. 25(4)(5) repealed for all remaining purposes by Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (c. 63), ss. 26, 27(3), Sch.

Maintenance from estate of deceased former spouse E+W

F10 26 Orders for maintenance from deceased’s estate. E+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F10 Ss. 26-28A repealed by Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (c. 63), ss. 26, 27(3), Sch.

F10 27 Discharge and variation of orders under s. 26. E+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F10 Ss. 26-28A repealed by Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (c. 63), ss. 26, 27(3), Sch.

F10 28 Additional provisions as to orders under ss. 26 and 27. E+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F10 Ss. 26-28A repealed by Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (c. 63), ss. 26, 27(3), Sch.

[F11 28A

F10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Textual Amendments

F10 Ss. 26-28A repealed by Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (c. 63), ss. 26, 27(3), Sch.

F11 S. 28A added by Family Provision Act 1966 (c. 35), s. 6(2), Sch. 1

F12 29—32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W

Textual Amendments

F12 Ss. 29–37, 39–41, 43(2)(3), 44, 45, 46(2)(3), Schs. 1, 2 repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3

Part III E+W Protection of children

F13 33—37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W

Textual Amendments

F13 Ss. 29–37, 39–41, 43(2)(3), 44, 45, 46(2)(3), Schs. 1, 2 repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3

F14 38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W

Textual Amendments

F14 S. 38 repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1976 (c. 16), Sch. 1 Pt. I

Part IV E+W Miscellaneous and general

Miscellaneous E+W

F15 39—41. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W

Textual Amendments

F15 Ss. 29–37, 39–41, 43(2)(3), 44, 45, 46(2)(3), Schs. 1, 2 repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3

F16 42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W

Textual Amendments

F16 S. 42 repealed by Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates' Courts Act 1978 (c. 22, SIF 49:3), Sch. 3

43 Evidence. E+W

F17 (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F18 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F18 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F17 S. 43(1) repealed by Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60, SIF 95), ss. 80(9), 82(3), 119, 120, Sch. 7 Pt. V

F18 Ss. 29–37, 39–41, 43(2)(3), 44, 45, 46(2)(3), Schs. 1, 2 repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3

F19 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W

Textual Amendments

F19 Ss. 29–37, 39–41, 43(2)(3), 44, 45, 46(2)(3), Schs. 1, 2 repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3

General E+W

F20 45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W

Textual Amendments

F20 Ss. 29–37, 39–41, 43(2)(3), 44, 45, 46(2)(3), Schs. 1, 2 repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3

46 X1 †Short title, interpretation, commencement and extent. E+W

(1) This Act may be cited as the Matrimonial Causes Act 1965.

F21 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F21 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) F22 . . ., this Act does not extend to Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Editorial Information

X1 A dagger appended to a marginal note means that it is no longer accurate.

Textual Amendments

F21 Ss. 29–37, 39–41, 43(2)(3), 44, 45, 46(2)(3), Schs. 1, 2 repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3

F22 Words repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1977 (c. 18), Sch. 1 Pt. VII

F23 SCHEDULE 1 E+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F23 Ss. 29–37, 39–41, 43(2)(3), 44, 45, 46(2)(3), Schs. 1, 2 repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3

F24 SCHEDULE 2 E+W

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Textual Amendments

F24 Ss. 29–37, 39–41, 43(2)(3), 44, 45, 46(2)(3), Schs. 1, 2 repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3