Supplementary provisions as to recognition and enforcement of judgmentsU.K.
4 Enforcement of judgments other than maintenance orders.U.K.
(1)A judgment, other than a maintenance order, which is the subject of an application under Article 31 [of the 1968 Convention . . . ] for its enforcement in any part of the United Kingdom shall, to the extent that its enforcement is authorised by the appropriate court, be registered in the prescribed manner in that court.
In this subsection “the appropriate court” means the court to which the application is made in pursuance of Article 32 (that is to say, the High Court or the Court of Session).
(2)Where a judgment is registered under this section, the reasonable costs or expenses of and incidental to its registration shall be recoverable as if they were sums recoverable under the judgment.
(3)A judgment registered under this section shall, for the purposes of its enforcement, be of the same force and effect, the registering court shall have in relation to its enforcement the same powers, and proceedings for or with respect to its enforcement may be taken, as if the judgment had been originally given by the registering court and had (where relevant) been entered.
(4)Subsection (3) is subject to Article 39 (restriction on enforcement where appeal pending or time for appeal unexpired), to section 7 and to any provision made by rules of court as to the manner in which and conditions subject to which a judgment registered under this section may be enforced.
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[4AEnforcement of judgments, other than maintenance orders, under the Lugano ConventionU.K.
(1)Where a judgment, other than a maintenance order, is registered under the Lugano Convention, the reasonable costs or expenses of and incidental to its registration shall be recoverable as if they were sums recoverable under the judgment.
(2)A judgment other than a maintenance order registered under the Lugano Convention shall, for the purposes of its enforcement, be of the same force and effect, the registering court shall have in relation to its enforcement the same powers, and proceedings for or with respect to its enforcement may be taken, as if the judgment had been originally given by the registering court and had (where relevant) been entered.
(3)Subsection (2) is subject to Article 47(3) of the Lugano Convention (restriction on enforcement where appeal pending or time for appeal unexpired), to section 7 (interest on registered judgments) and to any provision made by rules of court as to the manner in which and conditions subject to which a judgment registered under the Lugano Convention may be enforced.]
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[4B.Registration and enforcement of judgments under the 2005 Hague ConventionU.K.
(1)A judgment which is required to be recognised and enforced under the 2005 Hague Convention in any part of the United Kingdom must be registered in the prescribed manner in the appropriate court, on the application of any interested party.
(2)In subsection (1) “the appropriate court” means—
(a)in England and Wales or Northern Ireland, the High Court;
(b)in Scotland, the Court of Session.
(3)A judgment which is required to be recognised and enforced under the 2005 Hague Convention must be registered without delay on completion of the formalities in Article 13 of the 2005 Hague Convention if the registering court considers that it meets the condition for recognition in Article 8(3) of the 2005 Hague Convention, without any review of whether a ground for refusal under Article 9 applies.
(4)The party against whom enforcement is sought shall not be entitled to make any submission on the application for registration.
(5)Where a judgment which is required to be recognised and enforced under the 2005 Hague Convention has been registered, the reasonable costs or expenses of and incidental to its registration shall be recoverable as if they were sums recoverable under the judgment.
(6)A judgment which is required to be recognised and enforced under the 2005 Hague Convention shall, for the purposes of its enforcement, be of the same force and effect, the registering court shall have in relation to its enforcement the same powers, and proceedings for or with respect to its enforcement may be taken, as if the judgment had been originally given by the registering court and had (where relevant) been entered.
(7)Subsection (6) is subject to section 7 (interest on registered judgments) and to any provision made by rules of court as to the manner in which and conditions subject to which a judgment registered under the 2005 Hague Convention may be enforced.]
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5 Recognition and enforcement of maintenance orders.U.K.
(1)The function of transmitting to the appropriate court an application under Article 31 [of the 1968 Convention . . . ] for the recognition or enforcement in the United Kingdom of a maintenance order shall be discharged—
[(a)as respects England and Wales . . . , by the Lord Chancellor; and
(b)as respects Scotland, by the Secretary of State][; and
(c)as respects Northern Ireland, by the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland.]
In this subsection “the appropriate court” means the magistrates’ court or sheriff court having jurisdiction in the matter in accordance with the second paragraph of Article 32 [but, if the appropriate court is a magistrates' court in England and Wales, the Lord Chancellor is to transmit the application to the family court].
(2)Such an application shall be determined in the first instance by the prescribed [officer—
(a)of the family court if the application is transmitted to that court, or
(b)in any other case, of the court having jurisdiction in the matter].
(3)Where on such an application the enforcement of the order is authorised to any extent, the order shall to that extent be registered in the prescribed manner in that court.
(4)A maintenance order registered under this section shall, for the purposes of its enforcement, be of the same force and effect, the registering court shall have in relation to its enforcement the same powers, and proceedings for or with respect to its enforcement may be taken, as if the order had been originally made by the registering court.
(5)Subsection (4) is subject to Article 39 (restriction on enforcement where appeal pending or time for appeal unexpired), to section 7 and to any provision made by rules of court as to the manner in which and conditions subject to which an order registered under this section may be enforced.
(5A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(5B). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(5C). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(6)A maintenance order which by virtue of this section is enforceable by a magistrates’ court in [England and Wales or] Northern Ireland [shall, subject to the modifications of Article 98 of the Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 specified in subsection (6A) below, be enforceable][as an order made by that court to which that article applies].
[(6A)Article 98 (enforcement of sums adjudged to be paid) shall have effect—
(a)as if for paragraph (7)(a) there were substituted the following paragraph—
“(a) “if the court is of the opinion that it is appropriate—
(i)to make an attachment of earnings order; or
(ii)to exercise its power under paragraph (8C)(b);”
(b)as if for paragraphs (8B) to (8D) there were substituted the following paragraphs—
“(8B)Upon the appearance of a person or proof of service of the summons on him as mentioned in paragraph (4) for the enforcement of an order to which this Article applies, the court or resident magistrate may vary the order by exercising one of the powers under paragraph (8C).
(8C)The powers mentioned in paragraph (8B) are—
(a)the power to order that payments under the order be made directly to the collecting officer;
(b)the power to order that payments under the order be made to the collecting officer by such method of payment falling within Article 85(7) (standing order, etc.) as may be specified;
(c)the power to make an attachment of earnings order under Part IX to secure payments under the order.
(8D)In deciding which of the powers under paragraph (8C) is to be exercised, the court or, as the case may be, a resident magistrate shall have regard to any representations made by the debtor (within the meaning of Article 85).
(8E)Paragraph (5) of Article 85 (power of court to require debtor to open account) shall apply for the purposes of paragraph (8C) as it applies for the purposes of that Article but as if for sub-paragraph (a) there were substituted—
“(a)the court proposes to exercise its power under sub-paragraph (b) of Article 98(8C), and””]
(7)The payer under a maintenance order registered under this section in a magistrates’ court in ... Northern Ireland shall give notice of any change of address to the [proper officer] of that court.
A person who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with this subsection shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [level 2 on the standard scale].
[(8)In subsection (7) “proper officer” means—
(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b)in relation to a magistrates’ court in Northern Ireland, the clerk of the court.]
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[5ARecognition and enforcement of maintenance orders under the Lugano ConventionU.K.
(1)The Secretary of State's function (under Article 39 and Annex II of the Lugano Convention) of transmitting to the appropriate court an application for the recognition or enforcement in the United Kingdom of a maintenance order (made under Article 38 of the Lugano Convention) shall be discharged—
(a)as respects England and Wales. . . , by the Lord Chancellor; and
(b)as respects Scotland, by the Scottish Ministers [; and
(c)as respects Northern Ireland, by the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland].
In this subsection “the appropriate court” means the magistrates' court or sheriff court having jurisdiction in the matter in accordance with the second paragraph of Article 39 [but, if the appropriate court is a magistrates' court in England and Wales, the Lord Chancellor is to transmit the application to the family court].
(2)Such an application shall be determined in the first instance by the prescribed [officer—
(a)of the family court if the application is transmitted to that court, or
(b)in any other case, of]
the court having jurisdiction in the matter.
(3)A maintenance order registered under the Lugano Convention shall, for the purposes of its enforcement, be of the same force and effect, the registering court shall have in relation to its enforcement the same powers, and proceedings for or with respect to its enforcement may be taken, as if the order had been made by the registering court.
(4)Subsection (3) is subject to Article 47 of the Lugano Convention (restriction on enforcement where appeal pending or time for appeal unexpired), to subsection (6) and to any provision made by rules of court as to the manner in which and conditions subject to which an order registered under the Lugano Convention may be enforced.
(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In this subsection “magistrates' court maintenance order” has the same meaning as in section 150(1) of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980.
(6)A maintenance order which by virtue of the Lugano Convention is enforceable by a magistrates' court in Northern Ireland shall, subject to the modifications of Article 98 of the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 specified in section 5(6A) of this Act, be enforceable as an order made by that court to which that Article applies.
(7)The payer under a maintenance order registered under the Lugano Convention in a magistrates' court in ... Northern Ireland shall give notice of any change of address to the proper officer of that court.
(8)A person who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with subsection (7) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale.
(9)In subsection (7) “proper officer” means—
(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b)in relation to a magistrates' court in Northern Ireland, the clerk of the court.]
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6 Appeals under Article 37, second paragraph and Article 41.U.K.
(1)The single further appeal on a point of law referred to [in the 1968 Convention . . . ] in Article 37, second paragraph and Article 41 in relation to the recognition or enforcement of a judgment other than a maintenance order lies—
(a)in England and Wales or Northern Ireland, to the Court of Appeal or to the [Supreme Court] in accordance with Part II of the Administration of Justice Act 1969 (appeals direct from the High Court to the [Supreme Court]);
(b)in Scotland, to the Inner House of the Court of Session.
(2)Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) has effect notwithstanding section 15(2) of the Administration of Justice Act 1969 (exclusion of direct appeal to [the Supreme Court] in cases where no appeal to [the Supreme Court] lies from a decision of the Court of Appeal).
(3)The single further appeal on a point of law referred to [in [the 1968 Convention]] in Article 37, second paragraph and Article 41 in relation to the recognition or enforcement of a maintenance order lies—
(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b)in Scotland, to the Inner House of the Court of Session;
(c)in Northern Ireland, to the Court of Appeal.
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[6AAppeals under Article 44 and Annex IV of the Lugano ConventionU.K.
(1)The single further appeal on a point of law referred to in Article 44 and Annex IV of the Lugano Convention in relation to the recognition or enforcement of a judgment other than a maintenance order lies—
(a)in England and Wales or Northern Ireland, to the Court of Appeal or to the Supreme Court in accordance with Part II of the Administration of Justice Act 1969 (appeals direct from the High Court to the Supreme Court);
(b)in Scotland, to the Inner House of the Court of Session.
(2)Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) has effect notwithstanding section 15(2) of the Administration of Justice Act 1969 (exclusion of direct appeal to the Supreme Court in cases where no appeal to that House lies from a decision of the Court of Appeal).
(3)The single further appeal on a point of law referred to in Article 44 and Annex IV of the Lugano Convention in relation to the recognition or enforcement of a maintenance order lies—
(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b)in Scotland, to the Inner House of the Court of Session;
(c)in Northern Ireland, to the Court of Appeal.]
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[6B.Appeals in relation to registration of judgments under the 2005 Hague ConventionU.K.
(1)A decision on the application for registration of a judgment required to be recognised and enforced under the 2005 Hague Convention may be appealed against by either party.
(2)The appeal referred to in subsection (1) lies—
(a)in England and Wales or Northern Ireland, to the High Court;
(b)in Scotland, to the Court of Session.
(3)The court to which an appeal referred to in subsection (1) is brought must refuse or revoke registration only if—
(a)the condition for recognition in Article 8(3) of the 2005 Hague Convention is not met;
(b)the ground for postponement or refusal of recognition in Article 8(4) of the 2005 Hague Convention applies; or
(c)one or more of the grounds specified in Article 9 of the 2005 Hague Convention apply.
(4)A single further appeal on a point of law against the judgment given on the appeal referred to in subsection (1) lies—
(a)in England and Wales or Northern Ireland, to the Court of Appeal or to the Supreme Court in accordance with Part II of the Administration of Justice Act 1969 (appeals direct from the High Court to the Supreme Court);
(b)in Scotland, to the Inner House of the Court of Session.
(5)Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) has effect notwithstanding section 15(2) of the Administration of Justice Act 1969 (exclusion of direct appeal to the Supreme Court in cases where no appeal to that Court lies from a decision of the Court of Appeal).]
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7 Interest on registered judgments.U.K.
(1)Subject to subsection (4), where in connection with an application for registration of a judgment under section [4, 4A, [4B,] 5 or 5A] the applicant shows—
(a)that the judgment provides for the payment of a sum of money; and
(b)that in accordance with the law of the Contracting State in which the judgment was given interest on that sum is recoverable under the judgment from a particular date or time,
the rate of interest and the date or time from which it is so recoverable shall be registered with the judgment and, subject to any provision made under subsection (2), the debt resulting, apart from section 4(2), from the registration of the judgment shall carry interest in accordance with the registered particulars.
(2)Provision may be made by rules of court as to the manner in which and the periods by reference to which any interest payable by virtue of subsection (1) is to be calculated and paid, including provision for such interest to cease to accrue as from a prescribed date.
(3)Costs or expenses recoverable by virtue of section 4(2) shall carry interest as if they were the subject of an order for the payment of costs or expenses made by the registering court on the date of registration.
(4)Interest on arrears of sums payable under a maintenance order registered under section 5 in a magistrates’ court in ... Northern Ireland shall not be recoverable in that court, but without prejudice to the operation in relation to any such order of ... section 11A of the Maintenance and Affiliation Orders Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 (which [enables] interest to be recovered if the order is re-registered for enforcement in the High Court).
(5)Except as mentioned in subsection (4), debts under judgments registered under section [4, 4A, [4B,] 5 or 5A] shall carry interest only as provided by this section.
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8 Currency of payment under registered maintenance orders.U.K.
(1)Sums payable in the United Kingdom under a maintenance order by virtue of its registration under section 5 [or 5A], including any arrears so payable, shall be paid in the currency of the United Kingdom.
(2)Where the order is expressed in any other currency, the amounts shall be converted on the basis of the exchange rate prevailing on the date of registration of the order.
(3)For the purposes of this section, a written certificate purporting to be signed by an officer of any bank in the United Kingdom and stating the exchange rate prevailing on a specified date shall be evidence, and in Scotland sufficient evidence, of the facts stated.
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