Civil Partnership Act 2004

Matters to which court is to have regard in exercising its powers under paragraph 9

10 (1) The court, in deciding—

(a) whether to exercise its powers under paragraph 9, and

(b) if so, in what way,

must act in accordance with this paragraph.

(2) The court must have regard to all the circumstances of the case, giving first consideration to the welfare, while under 18, of any child of the family who has not reached 18.

(3) The court, in exercising its powers under paragraph 9 in relation to one of the civil partners—

(a) must in particular have regard to the matters mentioned in paragraph 16(2) of Schedule 15, and

(b) shall be under duties corresponding to those imposed by sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) of paragraph 18 of that Schedule (duties to consider termination of financial obligations) where it decides to exercise under paragraph 9 powers corresponding to the powers referred to in those sub-paragraphs.

(4) The matters to which the court is to have regard under sub-paragraph (3)(a), so far as relating to paragraph 16(2)(a) of Schedule 15 (regard to be had to financial resources), include—

(a) any benefits under a pension arrangement which either of the civil partners has or is likely to have, and

(b) any PPF compensation to which a civil partner is or is likely to be entitled,

(whether or not in the foreseeable future).

(5) The matters to which the court is to have regard under sub-paragraph (3)(a), so far as relating to paragraph 16(2)(h) of Schedule 15 (regard to be had to benefits that cease to be acquirable), include—

(a) any benefits under a pension arrangement which, because of the dissolution or annulment of the civil partnership, one of the civil partners will lose the chance of acquiring, and

(b) any PPF compensation which, because of the making of the dissolution or nullity order, a civil partner will lose the chance of acquiring entitlement to.

(6) The court, in exercising its powers under paragraph 9 in relation to a child of the family, must in particular have regard to the matters mentioned in paragraph 17(2) of Schedule 15.

(7) The court, in exercising its powers under paragraph 9 against a civil partner (“A”) in favour of a child of the family who is not A’s child, must also have regard to the matters mentioned in paragraph 17(3) of Schedule 15.

(8) Where an order has been made by a court outside Northern Ireland for—

(a) the making of payments, or

(b) the transfer of property,

by one of the civil partners, the court in considering in accordance with this paragraph the financial resources of the other civil partner, or of a child of the family, shall have regard to the extent to which that order has been complied with or is likely to be complied with.

(9) In this paragraph—

(a) “pension arrangement” has the same meaning as in Part 3 of Schedule 15,

(b) references to benefits under a pension arrangement include any benefits by way of pension, whether under a pension arrangement or not, and

(c) “PPF compensation” has the same meaning as in Part 6 of Schedule 15.