The Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders (Hague Convention Countries) Order 1993

Power of sheriff to make maintenance order against person residing in Hague Convention country.

4.—(1) The sheriff shall have jurisdiction in any action to which this section applies if at the time when the proceedings were instituted–

(a) the pursuer is habitually resident in Scotland and resides within the jurisdiction of the sheriff; and

(b) the sheriff is satisfied that, to the best of the information or belief of the pursuer, the defender is residing in a Hague Convention country; and

(c) the sheriff would not, apart from this subsection, have jurisdiction in that action.

(2) This section applies to any action for the payment, variation or revocation of aliment which is competent in the sheriff court, and includes an action of affiliation and aliment, but does not include an action of separation and aliment or adherence and aliment, or any action containing a crave for the custody of a child.

(3) Where in any action in which the payment of aliment in respect of a child is claimed, being an action in which the sheriff has jurisdiction by virtue of subsection (1) above, the sheriff is satisfied–

(a) that there are grounds on which a maintenance order containing a provision requiring the payment of aliment in respect of that child may be made in that action, but

(b) that he has no power to make that order unless he also makes an order providing for the custody of the child,

then, for the purpose of enabling the sheriff to make the maintenance order, the pursuer shall be deemed to be a person to whom the custody of the child has been committed by a decree of the sheriff which is for the time being in force.

(4) In any action in which the sheriff has jurisdiction by virtue of subsection (1) above, no decree shall be granted in favour of the pursuer unless a copy of the initial writ or summons has been served on the defender in the prescribed manner and in sufficient time to enable him to arrange for his defence.