The Family Procedure Rules 2010

[F1CHAPTER 4E+WSTOP NOTICES

Textual Amendments

GeneralE+W

40.14.  In this Chapter, “stop notice” means a notice issued by the court which requires a person or body not to take, in relation to securities specified in the notice, any of the steps listed in section 5(5) of the 1979 Act, without first giving notice to the person who obtained the notice.

(Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service publishes information to identify the appropriate court location to which to send a request under rule 40.15 or rule 40.18 or an application under rule 40.19.)

Request for a stop noticeE+W

40.15.—(1) The High Court may, on the request of any person claiming to be beneficially entitled to an interest in securities, issue a stop notice.

(A stop notice may also be included in a final charging order, by either the High Court or the family court under rule 40.8(3).)

(2) A request for a stop notice must be made by filing—

(a)a draft stop notice; and

(b)written evidence which—

(i)identifies the securities in question;

(ii)describes the applicant’s interest in the securities; and

(iii)gives an address for service for the applicant.

(A sample form of stop notice is annexed to Practice Direction 40A.)

(3) If a court officer considers that the request complies with paragraph (2), the court officer must issue a stop notice.

(4) The applicant must serve copies of the stop notice and the applicant’s written evidence on the person to whom the stop notice is addressed.

Effect of a stop noticeE+W

40.16.—(1) A stop notice—

(a)takes effect when it is served in accordance with rule 40.15(4); and

(b)remains in force unless it is withdrawn or discharged in accordance with rule 40.18 or 40.19.

(2) While a stop notice is in force, the person on whom it is served—

(a)must not—

(i)register a transfer of the securities described in the notice; or

(ii)take any other step restrained by the notice,

without first giving 14 days’ notice to the person who obtained the stop notice; but

(b)must not, by reason only of the notice, refuse to register a transfer or to take any other step, after the person has given 14 days’ notice under paragraph (2)(a) and that period has expired.

Amendment of a stop noticeE+W

40.17.—(1) If any securities are incorrectly described in a stop notice which has been obtained and served in accordance with rule 40.15, the applicant may request an amended stop notice in accordance with that rule.

(2) The amended stop notice takes effect when it is served.

Withdrawal of a stop noticeE+W

40.18.—(1) A person who has obtained a stop notice may withdraw it by serving a request for its withdrawal on—

(a)the person or body on whom the stop notice was served; and

(b)the court which issued the stop notice.

(2) The request must be signed by the person who obtained the stop notice, and that person’s signature must be witnessed by a practising solicitor.

Discharge or variation of a stop noticeE+W

40.19.—(1) The court may, on the application of any person claiming to be beneficially entitled to an interest in the securities to which a stop notice relates, make an order varying or discharging the notice.

(2) An application to discharge or vary a stop notice must be made to the court which issued the notice.

(3) The application must be served on the person who obtained the stop notice.

Practice DirectionE+W

40.20.  Practice Direction 40A makes provision for the procedure to be followed when applying for an order under section 23 of the Partnership Act 1890.]