Child Support Act 1991

Changes over time for: Section 9

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Changes to legislation:

Child Support Act 1991, Section 9 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 21 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.

View outstanding changes

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)

9 Agreements about maintenance.E+W+S

(1)In this section “maintenance agreement” means any agreement for the making, or for securing the making, of periodical payments by way of maintenance, or in Scotland aliment, to or for the benefit of any child.

(2)Nothing in this Act shall be taken to prevent any person from entering into a maintenance agreement.

[F1(2A)The [F2Secretary of State] may, with a view to reducing the need for applications under sections 4 and 7—

(a)take such steps as [F3the Secretary of State] considers appropriate to encourage the making and keeping of maintenance agreements, and

(b)in particular, before accepting an application under those sections, invite the applicant to consider with the [F4Secretary of State] whether it is possible to make such an agreement.]

(3)[F5Subject to section 4(10)(a) [F6and (ab)] and section 7(10),] the existence of a maintenance agreement shall not prevent any party to the agreement, or any other person, from applying for a [F7maintenance calculation] with respect to any child to or for whose benefit periodical payments are to be made or secured under the agreement.

(4)Where any agreement contains a provision which purports to restrict the right of any person to apply for a [F7maintenance calculation], that provision shall be void.

(5)Where section 8 would prevent any court from making a maintenance order in relation to a child and [F8a non-resident parent] of his, no court shall exercise any power that it has to vary any agreement so as—

(a)to insert a provision requiring that [F8non-resident parent] to make or secure the making of periodical payments by way of maintenance, or in Scotland aliment, to or for the benefit of that child; or

(b)to increase the amount payable under such a provision.

[F9(6)In any case in which section 4(10) or 7(10) prevents the making of an application for a [F7maintenance calculation], F10... subsection (5) shall have effect with the omission of paragraph (b).]

Textual Amendments

F1S. 9(2A) inserted (25.11.2013) by Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c. 5), ss. 136(1), 150(3); S.I. 2013/2947, art. 6

F2Words in s. 9(2A) 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. 105(2)(a)

F3Words in s. 9(2A)(a) 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. 105(2)(b)

F4Words in s. 9(2A)(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. 105(2)(c)

F5Words in s. 9(3) inserted (4.9.1995) by Child Support Act 1995 (c. 34), ss. 18(4), 30(4); S.I. 1995/2302, art. 2, Sch. Pt. 1

F6Words in s. 9(3) inserted (6.6.2008) by Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008 (c. 6), ss. 35(3), 62(2)

F7Words 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.