Part IProcedure etc. in Civil Courts

Family proceedings

9Allocation of family proceedings which are within the jurisdiction of county courts

1

The Lord Chancellor may, with the concurrence of the President of the Family Division, give directions that, in such circumstances as may be specified—

a

any family proceedings which are within the jurisdiction of county courts; or

b

any specified description of such proceedings,

shall be allocated to specified judges or to specified descriptions of judge.

2

Any such direction shall have effect regardless of any rules of court.

3

Where any directions have been given under this section allocating any proceedings to specified judges, the validity of anything done by a judge in, or in relation to, the proceedings shall not be called into question by reason only of the fact that he was not a specified judge.

4

For the purposes of subsection (1) “county court” includes the principal registry of the Family Division of the High Court in so far as it is treated as a county court.

5

In this section—

  • “family proceedings” has the same meaning as in the [1984 c. 42.] Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 and also includes any other proceedings which are family proceedings for the purposes of the [1989 c. 41.] Children Act 1989;

  • “judge” means any person who—

    1. a

      is capable of sitting as a judge for a county court district;

    2. b

      is a district judge, an assistant district judge or a deputy district judge; or

    3. c

      is a district judge of the principal registry of the Family Division of the High Court; and

  • “specified” means specified in the directions.