Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (c. 43)

Part II E+W Civil Jurisdiction and Procedure

Domestic proceedings E+W

70 Jurisdiction of magistrates’ courts in inner London for domestic proceedings. E+W

(1) A relevant court for an inner London petty sessions area shall, in addition to hearing proceedings which (apart from subsection (2) below) may be heard by a relevant court for that area, have jurisdiction to hear proceedings which could be heard before a relevant court for any other such area, but shall not exercise the jurisdiction conferred by this subsection except in such cases or classes of case as may be determined by the committee of magistrates.

(2) A magistrates’ court for an inner London petty sessions area shall not hear any [F1 family proceedings] if the committee of magistrates’ so determine.

(3) In this section—

• “relevant court” means a magistrates’ court when composed for the purpose of exercising jurisdiction to hear [F1 family proceedings];

• “inner London petty sessions area” means the City of London or any petty sessional division of the inner London area.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 70(2)(3) substituted (14.10.1991) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), ss. 92, 108(6), Sch. 11 Pt. II para. 8(c) (with Sch. 14 para. 1(1)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)