- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As enacted)
Child Support Act 1991
You are here:
What Version
Advanced Features
- Show Geographical Extent(e.g. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)
- Show Timeline of Changes
Opening Options
Changes over time for: Section 33
Changes to legislation:
Child Support Act 1991, Section 33 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 23 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
- Act applied (with modifications) by S.I. 2010/875 reg. 16 Sch. 2
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- s. 4(3A)(3B) inserted by 2023 c. 24 s. 1(2)
- s. 4(4)(d) and word inserted by 2023 c. 24 s. 1(3)(b)
- s. 6(2A) inserted by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 3 para. 4(2)
- s. 7(4A)(4B) inserted by 2023 c. 24 s. 2(2)
- s. 7(5)(d) and word inserted by 2023 c. 24 s. 2(3)(b)
- s. 9A inserted by 2012 c. 5 s. 138
- s. 9A(1)(2) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2012 c. 5 s. 138 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 107(2)
- s. 9A(3) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2012 c. 5 s. 138 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 107(2)
- s. 9A(5) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2012 c. 5 s. 138 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 107(3)
- s. 9A(6) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2012 c. 5 s. 138 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 107(4)
- s. 20(1)(ba) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 Sch. 7 para. 1(3) by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 97(2)
- s. 20(1)(ba) inserted by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 7 para. 1(3)
- s. 20(2)(aa) inserted by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 7 para. 1(4)
- s. 20(3A)(3B) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2012 c. 5 s. Sch. 11 para. 6(2) by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 108(3)
- s. 20(5A) inserted by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 7 para. 1(5)
- s. 20(7A) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 Sch. 7 para. 1(6) by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 97(3)
- s. 20(7A) inserted by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 7 para. 1(6)
- s. 20(7A) words substituted by S.I. 2008/2833 Sch. 3 para. 81(b)
- s. 30(5A) added by 1995 c. 34 Sch. 3 para. 9
- s. 31(8) (9) substituted for s. 31(8) by 2008 c. 6 s. 21
- s. 32M 32N inserted by 2008 c. 6 s. 25
- s. 32M(1) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 25 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 79(2)
- s. 32M(1) substituted by 2023 c. 35 s. 2
- s. 32M(2) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 25 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 79(3)
- s. 32M(3) words substituted by 2023 c. 35 s. 4(3)
- s. 32N(2)(ba) inserted by 2023 c. 35 s. 3
- s. 32N(3)-(5) inserted by 2023 c. 35 s. 4(2)
- s. 38(1)(aa) inserted by 2007 asp 3 Sch. 5 para. 18(a)(i)
- s. 38(1)(aa) word substituted by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 3 para. 40(b) (This amendment will come into force (a) in relation to Scotland, immediately after 2007 asp 3, Sch. 5 par. 18(a)(i) comes into force, and (b) in relation to England and Wales, immediately after 2007 asp 3, Sch. 5 par. 18(a)(i) extends to England and Wales. See S.I. 2008/2675, art. 2)
- s. 39B(3)(b)(c) words substituted by 2010 c. 40 Sch. para. 7(2)
- s. 39C(1)-(1B) substituted for s. 39C(1) by 2009 c. 24 s. 51(3)
- s. 39E(1A) inserted by 2009 c. 24 Sch. 5 para. 5(3)
- s. 39F(2)(e) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2009 c. 24 Sch. 5 para. 6 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 100(4)
- s. 39F(2)(f) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2009 c. 24 Sch. 5 para. 6 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 100(4)
- s. 39H-39Q inserted by 2008 c. 6 s. 28
- s. 39H(1) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 28 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 81(2)(a)
- s. 39H(2)-(5) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 28 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 81(2)(b)
- s. 39K(2) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 28 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 81(3)
- s. 39K(4)(5) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 28 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 81(3)
- s. 39K(6) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 28 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 81(3)
- s. 39M(2)(a) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 28 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 81(4)
- s. 39N(1) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 28 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 81(5)
- s. 39N(7)(8) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 28 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 81(5)
- s. 39P(2)(g) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 28 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 81(6)
- s. 39Q(2)(c) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 28 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 81(7)
- s. 39CA 39CB inserted by 2009 c. 24 s. 51(4)
- s. 39CA(11) omitted by S.I. 2015/583 Sch. 2 para. 7
- s. 39CB(5)(a) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2009 c. 24 s. 51(4) by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 99(4)(a)
- s. 39CB(6)(a) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2009 c. 24 s. 51(4) by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 99(4)(b)
- s. 39DA heading amendment to earlier affecting provision 2009 c. 24 s. 51(5) by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 99(5)(a)
- s. 39DA inserted by 2009 c. 24 s. 51(5)
- s. 39DA(1) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2009 c. 24 s. 51(5) by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 99(5)(b)
- s. 39DA(2) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2009 c. 24 s. 51(5) by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 99(5)(c)
- s. 39DA(3) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2009 c. 24 s. 51(5) by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 99(5)(d)
- s. 40(2A) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 29(1) by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 82(2)(a)
- s. 40(2A)-(2D) inserted by 2008 c. 6 s. 29(1)
- s. 40(2B) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 29(1) by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 82(2)(b)
- s. 40(2D)(a) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 29(1) by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 82(2)(b)
- s. 40(10)-(10C) substituted for s. 40(10) by 2008 c. 6 s. 29(2)
- s. 40A(A1) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 29(3) by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 82(3)(a)
- s. 40A(A2) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 29(3) by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 82(3)(b)
- s. 40A(A1)-(A4) inserted by 2008 c. 6 s. 29(3)
- s. 40A(A4)(a) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 29(3) by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 82(3)(b)
- s. 40A(6)(a) words in s. 40A(6) renumbered as s. 40A(6)(a) by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 7 para. 1(14)
- s. 40A(6)(b) inserted by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 7 para. 1(14)
- s. 40A(7A)-(7D) inserted by 2008 c. 6 s. 29(4)
- s. 40B(A1) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 30(1) by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 83(2)
- s. 40B(A3) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 30(1) by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 83(3)
- s. 40B(A1)-(1) substituted for heading and s. 40B(1) by 2008 c. 6 s. 30(1)
- s. 40B(A5)(a) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 30(1) by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 83(3)
- s. 40B(10)-(10C) substituted for s. 40B(10) by 2008 c. 6 s. 30(2)
- s. 40B(13) inserted by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 7 para. 1(18)
- s. 49A inserted by 2008 c. 6 s. 34
- s. 49A(1) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 34 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 86(2)
- s. 49A(2)(a) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 34 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 86(3)
- s. 49A(3) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 34 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 86(4)
- s. 49A(4) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 34 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 86(5)
- s. 49A(5)(a) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 34 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 86(6)
- s. 49A(8)(b) words inserted by 2023 c. 24 s. 3(4)
- s. 49A(9)(d) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 34 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 86(6)
- s. 49A(10)(b) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 34 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 86(6)
- s. 49A(10)(c) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 34 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 86(6)
- s. 49B 49C inserted by 2008 c. 6 s. 39
- s. 49B(1) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 39 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 87(2)(a)
- s. 49B(1) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 39 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 87(2)(b)
- s. 49B(2)(c) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 39 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 87(3)
- s. 49B(3)(b) amendment to earlier affecting provision 2008 c. 6 s. 39 by S.I. 2012/2007 Sch. para. 87(3)
- s. 50(5)(da) inserted by S.I. 2008/2833 Sch. 3 para. 95(e)
- s. 52(2A)(aa) inserted by 2023 c. 35 s. 4(4)
33 Liability orders.E+W+S
(1)This section applies where—
(a)a person who is liable to make payments of child support maintenance (“the liable person”) fails to make one or more of those payments; and
(b)it appears to the [F1Secretary of State] that—
(i)it is inappropriate to make a deduction from earnings order against him (because, for example, he is not employed); or
(ii)although such an order has been made against him, it has proved ineffective as a means of securing that payments are made in accordance with the [F2maintenance calculation] in question.
(2)The [F3Secretary of State] may apply to a magistrates’ court or, in Scotland, to the sheriff for an order (“a liability order”) against the liable person.
(3)Where the [F3Secretary of State] applies for a liability order, the magistrates’ court or (as the case may be) sheriff shall make the order if satisfied that the payments in question have become payable by the liable person and have not been paid.
(4)On an application under subsection (2), the court or (as the case may be) the sheriff shall not question the [F2maintenance calculation] under which the payments of child support maintenance fell to be made.
[F4(5)If the [F5Secretary of State] designates a liability order for the purposes of this subsection it shall be treated as a judgment entered in a county court for the purposes of [F6section 98 of the Courts Act 2003 (register of judgments and orders etc)].]
[F7(6)Where regulations have been made under section 29(3)(a)—
(a)the liable person fails to make a payment (for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) of this section); and
(b)a payment is not paid (for the purposes of subsection (3)),
unless the payment is made to, or through, the person specified in or by virtue of those regulations for the case of the liable person in question.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 33(1)(b) substituted (1.8.2012) by The Public Bodies (Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Abolition and Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2007), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 43
F2Words in Act substituted (3.3.2003 for specified purposes) by Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19), ss. 1(2)(a), 86(1)(a)(2) (with ss. 28, 83(6)); S.I. 2003/192, art. 3, Sch.
F3Words in s. 33(2)(3) substituted (1.8.2012) by The Public Bodies (Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Abolition and Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2007), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 43
F4S. 33(5) added (4.9.1995) by Child Support Act 1995 (c. 34), s. 30(4), Sch. 3 para. 10; S.I. 1995/2302, art. 2, Sch. Pt. 1
F5Words in s. 33(5) substituted (1.8.2012) by The Public Bodies (Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Abolition and Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2007), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 43
F6Words in s. 33(5) substituted (6.4.2006) by The Courts Act 2003 (Consequential Amendment) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1001), arts. 1(1), 2
F7S. 33(6) inserted (1.1.2001) by Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19), s. 86(1)(a)(2), Sch. 3 para. 11(17) (with s. 83(6)); S.I. 2000/2994, art. 2(3)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 33 applied (with modifications) (E.W.) (5.4.1993) by S.I. 1992/2643, reg.3
C2Ss. 29-41B modified by The Child Support (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/3186), reg. 16(2A) (as inserted (21.2.2003) by S.I. 2003/328, regs. 1(3)(a), 9(7)(b))
Options/Help
Print Options
PrintThe Whole Act
PrintThe Whole Cross Heading
PrintThis Section only
Legislation is available in different versions:
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
See additional information alongside the content
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Opening Options
Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once
More Resources
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
- the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
- lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
- confers power and blanket amendment details
- all formats of all associated documents
- correction slips
- links to related legislation and further information resources
Timeline of Changes
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
More Resources
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
- the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
- correction slips
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:
- lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
- confers power and blanket amendment details
- all formats of all associated documents
- links to related legislation and further information resources
All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. This site additionally contains content derived from EUR-Lex, reused under the terms of the Commission Decision 2011/833/EU on the reuse of documents from the EU institutions. For more information see the EUR-Lex public statement on re-use.