Law

Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1978

United Kingdom · statute

Ask the law about thisMore laws of United KingdomFor machines: Markdown

Open at the publisher →

In force since 2014-04-22, as the publisher states.

Copy read on 2026-11-08. The page it was read from

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.

sha256 929783390fb28705b180d091537d6b0c8d40deb5f35ca3ddbb9b49d1da0f034f

Contents: 87 provisions
  1. Title and introductory text
  2. 1 Grounds of application for financial provision.
  3. 2 Powers of court to make orders for financial provision.
  4. 3 Matters to which court is to have regard in exercising its powers under s. 2.
  5. 4 Duration of orders for financial provision for a party to a marriage.
  6. 5 Age limit on making orders for financial provision for children and duration of such orders.
  7. 6 Orders for payments which have been agreed by the parties.
  8. 7 Powers of court where parties are living apart by agreement.
  9. 8 Restriction on making of orders under this Act: welfare of children.
  10. 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  11. 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  12. 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  13. 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  14. 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  15. 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  16. 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  17. 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  18. 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  19. 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  20. 19 Interim orders.
  21. 20 Variation, revival and revocation of orders for periodical payments.
  22. 20ZA Variation of orders for periodical payments: further provisions.
  23. 20A Revival of orders for periodical payments.
  24. 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  25. 22 Variation of instalments of lump sum.
  26. 23 Supplementary provisions with respect to variation and revocation of orders.
  27. 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  28. 25 Effect on certain orders of parties living together.
  29. 26 Reconciliation.
  30. 27 Refusal of order in case more suitable for High Court.
  31. 28 Powers of High Court and family court in relation to certain orders under Part I.
  32. 29 Appeals.
  33. 30 Provisions as to jurisdiction and procedure.
  34. 31 Constitution of courts.
  35. 32 Enforcement etc. of orders for payment of money.
  36. 33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  37. 34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  38. 35 Orders for repayment in certain cases of sums paid after cessation of order by reason of remarriage or formation of civil partnership .
  39. 36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  40. 37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  41. 38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  42. 39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  43. 40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  44. 41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  45. 42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  46. 43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  47. 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  48. 45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  49. 46 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  50. 47 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  51. 48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  52. 49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  53. 50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  54. 51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  55. 52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  56. 53 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  57. 54 Date of operation of orders under Part I of Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972.
  58. 55 Interpretation of Part I of Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972 as respects Scotland.
  59. 56 Magistrates’ courts having jurisdiction to hear applications for affiliation orders under s. 27 of Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972.
  60. 57 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  61. 58 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  62. 59 Complaint by former wife in convention country for recovery in Northern Ireland of maintenance from former husband.
  63. 60 Further amendments of Maintenance Orders Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972 as respects Scotland.
  64. 61 Eligibility for Legal Aid in Scotland for proceedings under Maintenance Orders Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972.
  65. 62 Amendment of s. 4 of Matrimonial Causes Act 1973.
  66. 63 Amendment of s. 27 of Matrimonial Causes Act 1973.
  67. 64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  68. 65 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  69. 66 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  70. 67 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  71. 68 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  72. 69 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  73. 70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  74. 71 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  75. 72 .
  76. 73 Hearing in private of adoption proceedings.
  77. 74 Provisions relating to Convention adoption orders.
  78. 75–83 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  79. 84 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  80. 86 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  81. 87 Expenses.
  82. 88 Interpretation.
  83. 89 Transitional provisions, amendments, repeals and commencement.
  84. 90 Short title and extent.
  85. SCHEDULE 1 Transitional Provisions
  86. SCHEDULE 2 Minor and Consequential Amendments
  87. SCHEDULE 3 Enactments Repealed

Proposed changes to this act

No one has proposed a change to this act yet.

87 provisions

87 Expenses.

There shall be defrayed out of moneys provided by Parliament any increase attributable to this Act in the sums payable out of moneys so provided under any other enactment.

Propose a change

88 Interpretation.

(1) In this Act— . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “child”, in relation to one or both of the parties to a marriage, includes a child whose father and mother were not married to each other at the time of his birth; “child of the family”, in relation to the parties to a marriage, means— a child of both of those parties; and any other child, not being a child who is placed with those parties as foster parents by a local authority or voluntary organisation, who has been treated by both of those parties as a child of their family; “commission area” has the same meaning as in the Justices of the Peace Act 1997; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “local authority” means the council of a county (other than a metropolitan county), of a metropolitan district or of a London borough, or the Common Council of the City of London; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “maintenance assessmentmaintenance calculation” has the same meaning as it has in the Child Support Act 1991 by virtue of section 54 of that Act as read with any regulations in force under that section. “petty sessions area” has the same meaning as in the Justices of the Peace Act 1997; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) References in this Act to the parties to a marriage living with each other shall be construed as references to their living with each other in the same household. (3) For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that references in this Act to remarriage include references to a marriage which is by law void or voidable. (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (5) Any reference in this Act to an enactment shall be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended or extended by or under any subsequent enactment, including this Act.

Propose a change

89 Transitional provisions, amendments, repeals and commencement.

(1) The transitional provisions contained in Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect. (2) Subject to the transistional provisions contained in Schedule 1 to this Act— (a) the enactments specified in schedule 2 to this act shall have effect subject to the amendments specified in that Schedule (being minor amendments and amendments consequential on the preceding provisions of this act), and (b) the enactments specified in Schedule 3 to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule. (3) This Act shall come into force on such date as the Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument appoint and different dates may be appointed for, or for different purposes of, different provisions. (4) Without prejudice to the transitional provisions contained in Schedule 1 to this Act, an order under subsection (3) above may make such further transitional provision as appears to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient in connection with the provisions thereby brought into force, including such adaptations of the provisions thereby brought into force or any provision of this Act then in force as appear to him to be necessary or expedient in consequence of the partial operation of this Act or the Children Act 1975. (5) An order under subsection (3) above may repeal any provision of this Act which has ceased to have effect by reason of the coming into force of the Adoption Act 1976. (6) The inclusion in this Act of any express transitional provision or amendment shall not be taken as prejudicing the general application of section 38 of the Interpretation Act 1889 with regard to the effect of repeals.

Propose a change

90 Short title and extent.

(1) This Act may be cited as the Domestic Proceedings, and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1978. (2) Except for the following provisions, that is to say— (a) sections 54, 55, 60, 61, 74(1) and (3), 87, 88(5), 89(2) (a), (3) and (4) and this section, and (b) paragraphs 1, 12, 13, 14, 17 and 18 of Schedule 2 this Act does not extend to Scotland. (3) Except for the following provisions, that is to say— (a) sections 54, 59, 74(5), 88(5), 89(2), (3) and (4) and this section, and (b) paragraphs 12, 13, 14 and 33 of Schedule 2 and Schedule 3, this Act does not extend to Northern Ireland, and in section 88(5) of this Act any reference to an enactment includes a reference to an enactment contained in an Act of the Parliament of Northern Ireland or a Measure of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Propose a change

SCHEDULE 1 Transitional Provisions

Section 89. 1 This Act (including the repeals and amendments made by it) shall not have effect in relation to any application made under any enactment repealed or amended by this Act if that application is pending at the time when the provision of this Act which repeals or amends that enactment comes into force. 2 Any order made or other thing done under the Matrimonial Proceedings (Magistrates’ Courts) Act 1960 which is in force immediately before the coming into force of Part I of this Act shall not be affected by the repeal by this Act of that Act, and the provisions of that Act shall after the coming into force of the said Part I apply in relation to such an order, and to an order made under that Act by virtue of paragraph 1 above, subject to the following modifications— (a) on a complaint for the revocation of the order the court shall not be bound under section 8 of that Act to revoke the order by reason of an act of adultery committed by the person on whose complaint the order was made; (b) on a complaint for the variation, revival or revocation of the order, the court, in exercising its powers under the said section 8 in relation to a provision of the order requiring the payment of money, shall have regard to any change in any of the matters to which the court would have been required to have regard when making that order if the order had been made on an application under section 2 of this Act; (bb) on a complaint after the coming into force of paragraph 27 of Schedule 1 to the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 for the variation, revival or revocation of the order, the court, in exercising its powers under the said section 8 in relation to any provision of the order requiring the payment of money, shall have power to order that payments required to be made for the maintenance of a child of the family shall be made to the child himself. (c) where the order contains a provision for the legal custody of a child, the court shall have power, on a complaint made by a grandparent of the child, to vary that order under the said section 8 by the addition to the order of a provision requiring access to the child to be given to that grandparent; (d) where the court, by virtue of paragraph (c) above, varies the order by the addition of a provision requiring access to a child to be given to a grandparent, the court shall have power to vary or revoke that provision on a complaint made— (i) by that grandparent, or (ii) by either party to the marriage in question, or (iii) where the child is not a child of both the parties to the marriage, by any person who though not a party to the marriage is a parent of the child, or (iv) where under the order a child is for the time being committed to the legal custody of some person other than one of the parents or a party to the marriage, by the person to whose legal custody the child is committed by the order. 3 The amendment by this Act of any enactment shall not affect the operation of that enactment in relation to any order made or having effect as if made under the Matrimonial Proceedings (Magistrates’ Courts) Act 1960 (including an order made under that Act by virtue of paragraph 1 above) or in relation to any decision of a magistrates’ court made on an application for such an order or for the variation, revival or revocation of such an order but as respects enactments amended by this Act in their application in relation to orders made or decisions on applications for orders or for the variation, revival or revocation of orders made or having effect as if made under other Acts those enactments shall apply as amended by this Act. 3A Any order for the payment of money in force under the Matrimonial Proceedings (Magistrates’ Courts) Act 1960 (including any such order made under that Act by virtue of paragraph 1 above) shall be enforceable as a magistrates’ court maintenance order. 4 Any reference in paragraph 1 above to an application made under an enactment repealed by this Act shall be construed as including a reference to an application which is treated as a complaint under section 1 of the Matrimonial Proceedings (Magistrates’ Courts) Act 1960 by virtue of section 27 of the Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972 and any reference in paragraph 2, 3 or 3A above to an order made under the Matrimonial Proceedings (Magistrates’ Courts) Act 1960 shall be construed as including a reference to an order which is made under that Act by virtue of section 28 of the Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972 5 A provision contained in section 72 . . . of this Act shall not apply in relation to proceedings commenced before the coming into force of that provision. 6, 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 A provision of Schedule 2 to this Act which relates to the punishment by way of fine which may be imposed for any offence shall not affect the punishment which may be imposed for an offence which is committed before the date on which that provision comes into force.

Propose a change

SCHEDULE 2 Minor and Consequential Amendments

Section 89. The Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1907 (c. 51) 1 In section 5 of the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1907— (a) in subsection (2), after the words “Actions of aliment ”, there shall be inserted the words “(other than any action mentioned in sub-section (2A) below) ” ; (b) the following subsection shall be inserted after subsection (2)— (2A) Actions, arising out of an application under section 31(1) of the Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972, for the recovery of maintenance: ; and (c) in the final proviso, for the words “the second sub-section ” there shall be substituted the words “sub-section (2) or (2A) ”. The Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement) Act 1920 (c. 33) 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3—5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The National Assistance Act 1948 (c. 29) 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 In section 44(2) of that Act for the words “having jurisdiction in the place ” there shall be substituted the words “appointed for the commission area (within the meaning of section 1 of the Administration of Justice Act 1973). ” 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Marriage Act 1949 (c. 76) 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Justices of the Peace Act 1949 (c. 101) 10 In section 13(4) of the Justices of the Peace Act 1949 after the words “juvenile ” there shall be inserted the words “or domestic ”. The Maintenance Orders Act 1950 (c. 37.) 11 In section 3(2) of the Maintenance Orders Act 1950 for the words “having jurisdiction in the place ” there shall be substituted the words “appointed for the commission area (within the meaning of the Administration of Justice Act 1973) ”. 12 In section 15(1)(a) of that Act for sub-paragraph (ii) there shall be substituted the following sub-paragraph— (ii) section 24(1) and 30(3) of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1978 . 13 In section 16(2)(a) of that Act, for sub-paragraph (ii) there shall be substituted the following sub-paragraph— (ii) Part 1 of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1978. 14 In section 22(1) of that Act after the words “person liable to make ”, in the first place where they occur, there shall be inserted the word “periodical ”. 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Affiliation Proceedings Act 1957 (c. 55) 16 In section 9(2) of the Affiliation Proceedings Act 1957 for the words “£10 ” there shall be substituted the words “£50 ”. The Adoption Act 1958 (7 & 8 Eliz. 2 c. 5) 17 In section 32(2) of the Adoption Act 1958 for the words “subsection (2) ” there shall be substituted the words “subsection (1A) ”. 18 In section 34A(3) of that Act— (a) for the words “the authority ”, in the first place where those words occur, there shall be substituted the words “a local authority ” ; (b) after the words “the authority ”, in the second place where those words occur, there shall be inserted the words “in whose care the child is ” ; (c) for the words “the court ” there shall be substituted the words “a court ”. The County Courts Act 1959 (c. 22) 19 In section 109(2) of the County Courts Act 1959— (a) in paragraph (g) for the words “section 13A of the Matrimonial Proceedings (Magistrates’ Courts) Act 1960 ” there shall be substituted the words “section 35 of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1978 ” ; (b) in paragraph (h) after the words “proceedings under ” there shall be inserted the words “section 34 or 34A of the Adoption Act 1958 ; ” (c) in paragraph (i) for the words “section 29 ” there shall be substituted the words “section 27, 28, 29 ”. 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 (c. 46) 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Administration of Justice Act 1970 (c. 31) 26 In Schedule 8 of that Act in paragraph 3 for the words “or having effect as if made under the Matrimonial Proceedings (Magistrates’ Courts) Act 1960 ” there shall be substituted the words “under Part I of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1978 ”. The Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 (c. 42) 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Act 1970 (c. 45) 28 In section 30(2) of the Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Act 1970 for the words “Subsections (4), (5) and (6) of section 7 of the Matrimonial Proceedings (Magistrates’ Courts) Act 1960 ” there shall be substituted the words “Section 4(2) of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1978 ”, for the words “section 2(1)(b) or (c) ” there shall be substituted the words “section 2(1)(a) ” and for the words “as they apply in relation to such an order as is referred to in the said subsection (4) ” there shall be substituted the words “as it applies in relation to an order made under section 2(1)(a) of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1978 ”. The Guardianship of Minors Act 1971 (c. 3) 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Attachment of Earnings Act 1971 (c. 32) 32 In Schedule 1 to the Attachment of Earnings Act 1971 in paragraph 4 for the words “or having effect as if made under the Matrimonial Proceedings (Magistrates’ Courts) Act 1960 ” there shall be substituted the words “under Part I of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1978 ”. The Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972 (c. 18) 33 In section 8(3) of the Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972 for the words “£10 ” there shall be substituted the words “£50 ”. 34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 In section 42(1) of that Act for the words “section 2(1)(b) or (c) of the Matrimonial Proceedings (Magistrates’ Courts) Act 1960 (payment of weekly sums by husband or wife) ” there shall be substituted the words “section 2(1)(a) of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1978 (making of periodical payments by husband or wife) ”. The Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (c. 18) 38 In section 4(1) of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 after the words “the Matrimonial Proceedings (Magistrates’ Courts) Act 1960 ” there shall be inserted the words “or Part I of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1978 ”. 39 In section 47(2)(e) of that Act for the words “the Matrimonial Proceedngs (Magistrates’ Courts) Act 1960 ” there shall be substituted the words “Part I of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1978 ”. 40 In section 50(2)(b) of that Act for the words “the Matrimonial Proceedings (Magistrates’ Courts) Act 1960 ” there shall be substituted the words “Part I of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1978 ”. The Guardianship Act 1973 (c. 29) 41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Children Act 1975 (c. 72) 46 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Adoption Act 1976 (c. 36) 50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 In section 63(4) of that Act the words “to remove a child from a person’s custody under section 27 or 28 or ” shall be omitted. 52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Domestic Violence and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1976 (c. 50) 53 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Supplementary Benefits Act 1976 (c. 71) 54 In section 19(2) of the Supplementary Benefits Act 1976 for the words “acting for the petty sessions area ” there shall be substituted the words “appointed for the commission area (within the meaning of section 1 of the Administration of Justice Act 1973) ”

Propose a change

← Find another law