Matrimonial Proceedings And Property Act 1970
1970 c.45
An Act to make fresh provision for empowering the court in matrimonial proceedings to make orders ordering either spouse to make financial provision for, or transfer property to, the other spouse or a child of the family, orders for the variation of ante-nuptial and post-nuptial settlements, orders for the custody and education of children and orders varying, discharging or suspending orders made in such proceedings; to make other amendments of the law relating to matrimonial proceedings; to abolish the right to claim restitution of conjugal rights; to declare what interest in property is acquired by a spouse who contributes to its improvement; to make provision as to a spouse’s rights of occupation under section 1 of the Matrimonial Homes Act 1967 in certain cases; to extend section 17 of the Married Women’s Property Act 1882 and section 7 of the Matrimonial Causes (Property and Maintenance) Act 1958; to amend the law about the property of a person whose marriage is the subject of a decree of judicial separation dying intestate; to abolish the agency of necessity of a wife; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid.
[29th May 1970]
Words of enactment omitted under authority of Statute Law Revision Act 1948 (c. 62), s. 3

Part I

1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 1-11, 13-29 repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3

Provisions as to variation, discharge and enforcement of certain orders

9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 1-11, 13-29 repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3

12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 12 repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1977 (c. 18), s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. VII

13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 1-11, 13-29 repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3

Part II Miscellaneous Provisions

Provisions relating to orders made by magistrates’ courts in matrimonial proceedings

30 Order for maintenance of party to marriage made by magistrates’ court to cease to have effect on remarriage of that party.
(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 30(1), 31-33 repealed by Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates' Courts Act 1978 (c. 22, SIF 49:3), s. 89(2)(b), Sch. 3
(2) Section 4(2) of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1978 shall apply in relation to an order consisting of or including a provision such as is mentioned in section 2(1)(a) of that Act made by the family court and confirmed in accordance with section 3 of the Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement) Act 1920 (which enables the family court to make a maintenance order against a person resident in a part of Her Majesty’s dominions outside the United Kingdom but provides that the order shall have no effect unless and until confirmed by a competent court in that part) as it applies in relation to an order made under section 2(1)(a) of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1978, . . .
Words substituted by Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates' Courts Act 1978 (c.22, SIF 49:3), s. 89(2)(a), Sch. 2 para. 28
Words in s. 30(2) substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 11 para. 28(2); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(e) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)
Words repealed by Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972 (c.18, SIF 49:3), s. 42(3)

31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 30(1), 31-33 repealed by Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates' Courts Act 1978 (c. 22, SIF 49:3), s. 89(2)(b), Sch. 3

34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 34, 35 repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3

36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 36 repealed (saving) by Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (c. 63, SIF 116:1), s. 26(2), Sch.

Provisions relating to property of married persons

37 Contributions by spouse in money or money’s worth to the improvement of property.
It is hereby declared that where a husband or wife contributes in money or money’s worth to the improvement of real or personal property in which or in the proceeds of sale of which either or both of them has or have a beneficial interest, the husband or wife so contributing shall, if the contribution is of a substantial nature and subject to any agreement between them to the contrary express or implied, be treated as having then acquired by virtue of his or her contribution a share or an enlarged share, as the case may be, in that beneficial interest of such an extent as may have been then agreed or, in default of such agreement, as may seem in all the circumstances just to any court before which the question of the existence or extent of the beneficial interest of the husband or wife arises (whether in proceedings between them or in any other proceedings).
S. 37 applied by Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1970 (c. 33), s. 2(1)

38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 38 repealed by Matrimonial Homes Act 1983 (c. 19, SIF 49:5), ss. 12, 13(3), Sch. 3

39 Extension of s. 17 of Married Women’s Property Act 1882.
An application may be made to the High Court or the family court under section 17 of the Married Women’s Property Act 1882 (powers of the court in disputes between husband and wife about property) (including that section as extended by section 7 of the Matrimonial Causes (Property and Maintenance) Act 1958) by either of the parties to a marriage notwithstanding that their marriage has been dissolved or annulled so long as the application is made within the period of three years beginning with the date on which the marriage was dissolved or annulled; and references in the said section 17 and the said section 7 to a husband or a wife shall be construed accordingly.
Words in s. 39 substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 11 para. 28(3); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(e) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)
1882 c. 75.
1958 c. 35.

40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 40-42, 43(2), Schs. 1-3 repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3

41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 40-42, 43(2), Schs. 1-3 repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3

Part III Supplementary

42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 40-42, 43(2), Schs. 1-3 repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3

43 †Citation, commencement and extent.
(1) This Act may be cited as the Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Act 1970.
(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 40-42, 43(2), Schs. 1-3 repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3
(3) Any reference in any provision of this Act, or in any enactment amended by a provision of this Act, to the commencement of this Act shall be construed as a reference to the date on which that provision comes into force.
(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , this Act does not extend to Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Words repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1977 (c. 18), s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. VII
Unreliable marginal note
SCHEDULES 1—3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 40-42, 43(2), Schs. 1-3 repealed by Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18), s. 54(1), Sch. 3