Maintenance Enforcement Act 1991

8 (1) In section 3 of that Act (enforcement of registered orders), in subsection (2) (order registered in magistrates' court to be enforceable as magistrates' court maintenance order) for the words “Subject to the provisions of the next following subsection” there shall be substituted “Subject to the provisions of subsections (2A) to (3) of this section”.

(2) After that subsection there shall be inserted the following subsections—

“(2A) Where an order registered in a magistrates' court is an order other than one deemed to be made by the High Court by virtue of section 1(2) of this Act, section 76 of the [1980 c. 43.] Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (enforcement of sums adjudged to be paid) shall have effect as if for subsections (4) to (6) there were substituted the following subsections—

“(4) Where proceedings are brought for the enforcement of a magistrates' court maintenance order under this section, the court may vary the order by exercising one of its powers under paragraphs (a) to (d) of section 59(3) above.

(5) In deciding which of the powers under paragraphs (a) to (d) of section 59(3) above it is to exercise, the court shall have regard to any representations made by the debtor and the creditor (which expressions have the same meaning as they have in section 59 above).

(6) Subsection (4) of section 59 above shall apply for the purposes of subsection (4) above as it applies for the purposes of that section.”

(2B) Where an order registered in a magistrates' court is an order deemed to be made by the High Court by virtue of section 1(2) of this Act, sections 76 and 93 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (enforcement of sums adjudged to be paid and complaint for arrears) shall have effect subject to the modifications specified in subsections (2ZA) and (2ZB) of section 18 of the [1950 c. 37.] Maintenance Orders Act 1950 (enforcement of registered orders).”