Matrimonial Causes Act 1973
Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (1973 c. 18)
- Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (1973 c. 18)
- Part I Divorce, Nullity and Other Matrimonial Suits
- Divorce
- 1 Divorce on breakdown of marriage.
- 2 Supplemental provisions as to facts raising presumption of breakdown.
- 3 Bar on applying for a divorce order within one year of marriage.
- 4 Divorce not precluded by previous judicial separation.
- 5 Refusal of decree in five year separation cases on grounds of grave hardship to respondent.
- 6 Attempts at reconciliation of parties to marriage.
- 7 Consideration by the court of certain agreements or arrangements.
- 8 Intervention of Queen’s Proctor.
- 9 Proceedings before divorce order has been made final: general powers of court.
- 10 Proceedings before divorce order made final: special protection for respondent.
- 10A Proceedings before divorce order has been made final: religious marriage
- Nullity
- 11 Grounds on which a marriage is void.
- 12 Grounds on which a marriage is voidable.
- 12A. Grounds on which a marriage converted from a civil partnership is void or voidable
- 12B The period before nullity of marriage orders may be made final
- 13 Bars to relief where marriage is voidable.
- 14 Marriages governed by foreign law or celebrated abroad under English law.
- 15 Application of sections 8 and 9 to proceedings for a nullity of marriage order
- 16 Effect of annulment in case of voidable marriage.
- Other matrimonial suits
- 17 Judicial separation.
- 18 Effects of judicial separation.
- 19 Presumption of death and dissolution of marriage.
- ...
- 20 Relief for respondent in divorce proceedings.
- Part II Financial Relief for Parties to Marriage and Children of Family
- Financial provision and property adjustment orders
- 21 Financial provision and property adjustment orders.
- 21A Pension sharing orders.
- 21B Pension compensation sharing orders
- 21C Pension compensation: interpretation
- Ancillary relief in connection with divorce proceedings, etc.
- 22 Maintenance pending suit.
- 22ZA Orders for payment in respect of legal services
- 22ZB Matters to which court is to have regard in deciding how to exercise power under section 22ZA
- 23 Financial provision orders in connection with divorce proceedings, etc.
- 24 Property adjustment orders in connection with divorce proceedings, etc.
- 24A Orders for sale of property
- 24B Pension sharing orders in connection with divorce proceedings etc.
- 24C Pension sharing orders: duty to stay.
- 24D Pension sharing orders: apportionment of charges.
- 24E Pension compensation sharing orders in connection with divorce proceedings
- 24F Pension compensation sharing orders: duty to stay
- 24G Pension compensation sharing orders: apportionment of charges
- 25 Matters to which court is to have regard in deciding how to exercise its powers under ss. 23, 24 , 24A, 24B and 24E.
- 25A Exercise of court’s powers in favour of party to marriage on divorce or nullity of marriage order.
- 25B Pensions.
- 25C Pensions: lump sums.
- 25D Pensions: supplementary.
- 25E The Pension Protection Fund
- 25F Attachment of pension compensation
- 25G Pension compensation: supplementary
- 26 Commencement of proceedings for ancillary relief, etc.
- Financial provision in case of neglect to maintain
- 27 Financial provision orders, etc., in case of neglect by party to marriage to maintain other party or child of the family.
- Additional provisions with respect to financial provision and property adjustment orders
- 28 Duration of continuing financial provision orders in favour of party to marriage, and effect of remarriage or formation of civil partnership.
- 29 Duration of continuing financial provision orders in favour of children, and age limit on making certain orders in their favour.
- 30 Direction for settlement of instrument for securing payments or effecting property adjustment.
- Variation, discharge and enforcement of certain orders, etc.
- 31 Variation, discharge, etc., of certain orders for financial relief.
- 32 Payment of certain arrears unenforceable without the leave of the court.
- 33 Orders for repayment in certain cases of sums paid under certain orders.
- Consent orders
- 33A Consent orders for financial provision or property adjustment.
- Maintenance agreements
- 34 Validity of maintenance agreements.
- 35 Alteration of agreements by court during lives of parties.
- 36 Alteration of agreements by court after death of one party.
- Miscellaneous and supplemental
- 37 Avoidance of transactions intended to prevent or reduce financial relief.
- 38 Orders for repayment in certain cases of sums paid after cessation of order by reason of remarriage or formation of civil partnership.
- 39 Settlement, etc. made in compliance with a property adjustment order may be avoided on bankruptcy of settlor.
- 40 Payments, etc., under order made in favour of person suffering from mental disorder.
- 40A Appeals relating to pension sharing orders which have taken effect.
- Part III Protection, Custody, etc., of Children
- 41 Restrictions on decrees for dissolution, annulment or separation affecting children.
- 42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- Part IV Miscellaneous and Supplemental
- 45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 46 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 47 Matrimonial relief and declarations of validity in respect of polygamous marriages.
- 48 Evidence.
- 49 Parties to proceedings under this Act.
- 50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 52 Interpretation.
- 52A Interpretation of certain references to divorce orders, nullity of marriage orders and judicial separation orders
- 53 Transitional provisions and savings.
- 54 Consequential amendments and repeals.
- 55 Citation, commencement and extent.
- SCHEDULES
- SCHEDULE 1 Transitional Provisions and Savings
- Part I Miscellaneous and General
- General transitional provisions and savings
- Transitional provisions derived from the Act of 1965
- Part II Preservation for limited Purposes of certain Provisions of previous Enactments
- Nullity
- Succession on intestacy in case of judicial separation
- Validation of certain void or voidable decrees
- Part III Assimilation in certain respects to Orders under this Act of Orders made, etc., under the Act of 1965, etc.
- Cesser on remarriage of orders made, etc., under the Act of 1965 and recovery of sums mistakenly paid thereafter
- Variation, etc., of certain orders made, etc., under the Act of 1965
- Orders made under the Act of 1965 to count as orders under this Act for certain purposes
- Application of provisions of this Act with respect to enforcement of arrears and recovery of excessive payments to certain orders made, etc., under the Act of 1965
- Avoidance under this Act of transactions intended to defeat claims for relief and relief granted under the Act of 1965
- Care and supervision of children
- SCHEDULE 2 Consequential Amendments
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