Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1973
Part I DOMICILE
Husband and wife
1 Abolition of wife’s dependent domicile.
2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Minors and pupils
3 Age at which independent domicile can be acquired.
4 Dependent domicile of child not living with his father.
Part II JURISDICTION IN MATRIMONIAL PROCEEDINGS (ENGLAND AND WALES)
5Jurisdiction of High Court and family court.
6 Miscellaneous amendments, transitional provision and savings.
Part III JURISDICTION IN CONSISTORIAL CAUSES (SCOTLAND)
7 Jurisdiction of Court of Session.
8 Jurisdiction of sheriff court in respect of actions for separation.
8ASame sex marriages
9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10 Ancillary and collateral orders.
11 Sisting of certain actions.
12 Supplementary.
Part IV
13, 14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Part VMISCELLANEOUS AND GENERAL
15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
17 Citation, etc.
SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE A1Jurisdiction in relation to marriage of same sex couples
1Introduction
2Divorce, judicial separation or annulment
3Presumption of death order
4Declaration of validity
5 Power to make provision corresponding to provision for opposite sex married couples
6Interpretation
SCHEDULE 1 STAYING OF MATRIMONIAL PROCEEDINGS (ENGLAND AND WALES)
Interpretation
1The following five paragraphs have effect for the interpretation of...
2“Matrimonial proceedings” means any proceedings so far as they are...
3(1) “Another jurisdiction” means any country outside England and Wales....
4(1) References to the trial or first trial in any...
5Any reference in this Schedule to proceedings in another jurisdiction...
6“Prescribed” means prescribed by rules of court.
Duty to furnish particulars of concurrent proceedings in another jurisdiction
7While matrimonial proceedings are pending in the court in respect...
Obligatory stays
8(1) Where before the beginning of the trial or first...
Discretionary stays
9(1) Where before the beginning of the trial or first...
Supplementary
10(1) Where an order staying any proceedings is in force...
11(1) The provisions of sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) below shall...
SCHEDULE 1BJURISDICTION IN RELATION TO SAME SEX MARRIAGES (SCOTLAND)
Introduction
1(1) This Schedule has effect with respect to the jurisdiction...
Power to make provision corresponding to EC Regulation 2201/2003
2(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision—
Divorce or separation
3(1) The Court of Session has jurisdiction to entertain proceedings...
Declarator of marriage
4(1) In relation to a same sex marriage, the Court...
Nullity of marriage
5(1) The Court of Session has jurisdiction to entertain proceedings...
Recognition, or non-recognition, of foreign decrees
6(1) The Court of Session has jurisdiction to entertain proceedings...
Supplementary provision
7(1) Paragraph 3(1) does not affect any rule of law...
SCHEDULE 2ANCILLARY AND COLLATERAL ORDERS (SCOTLAND)
Part I
Enactments and rules of law referred to in section 10(1) and in Schedule 3 paragraph 11(1)
1, 2. . . . . . . . . ....
2AAny enactment or rule of law empowering a court to...
3Paragraph (2) of section 5 of the Sheriff Courts (Scotland)...
4Section 9 (orders with respect to children) of the Conjugal...
5Section 10 of the Matrimonial Proceedings (Children) Act 1958 so...
6Section 13 (power to prohibit in certain cases removal of...
7Any enactment or rule of law empowering a court to...
Part II
Further enactments and rules of law referred to in section 10(1)
8. . . . . . . . . ....
9Section 2 (effect of divorce on property rights) of the...
10Section 10 of the Matrimonial Proceedings (Children) Act 1958, so...
11Section 12 (power of court to provide for supervision of...
12Section 26 (orders for financial provision on divorce) and section...
12ASection 5 (orders for financial provision) and section 6 (orders...
12BSection 8 (orders for financial provision on divorce), section 17(1)...
13Any rule of law empowering a court, in connection with...
14Any rule of law empowering a court to make an...
15Any enactment or rule of law empowering a court to...
SCHEDULE 3 SISTING OF CONSISTORIAL ACTIONS (SCOTLAND)
Interpretation
1The following six paragraphs have effect for the interpretation of...
2“Consistorial action” means any action so far as it is...
3(1) “Another jurisdiction” means any country outside Scotland.
4For the purposes of this Schedule— (a) in any action...
5Any reference in this Schedule to proceedings in another jurisdiction...
6“Prescribed” means prescribed by rules of court.
Duty to furnish particulars of concurrent proceedings in another jurisdiction
7While any consistorial action is pending in the Court of...
Mandatory sists
8Where before the beginning of the proof in any action...
Discretionary sists
9(1) Where before the beginning of the proof in any...
Supplementary
10(1) Where an action is sisted in pursuance of paragraph...
11(1) The provisions of sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) below shall...
SCHEDULE 4 CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS OF SCOTTISH ENACTMENTS
1In section 6 of the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1907,...
2. . . . . . . . . ....
SCHEDULE 5 . . .
SCHEDULE 6 Repeals

Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1973

1973 c.45

An Act to amend the law relating to the domicile of married women and persons not of full age, to matters connected with domicile and to jurisdiction in matrimonial proceedings including actions for reduction of consistorial decrees; to make further provision about the recognition of divorces and legal separations; and for purposes connected therewith.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I1

Act wholly in force at 1. 1. 1974 see s. 17(5).

Extent Information
E1

Act: Pt. II extends to England and Wales only; Pt. III extends to Scotland only; Pt. IV extends to Northern Ireland only and Pt. V extends to the United Kingdom.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1

Words of enactment omitted under authority of Statute Law Revision Act 1948 (c. 62), s. 3