Matrimonial Causes (Northern Ireland) Order 1978

Interpretation N.I.

1.  Paragraphs 2 to 6 have effect for the interpretation of this Schedule. N.I.

2.  “Matrimonial proceedings” means any proceedings so far as they are one or more of the five following kinds, namely, proceedings for— N.I.

• divorce,

• judicial separation,

• nullity of marriage,

• a declaration as to the validity of a marriage of the petitioner, and

• a declaration as to the subsistence of such a marriage.

3.—(1) “Another jurisdiction” means any country other than Northern Ireland. N.I.

(2) “Related jurisdiction” means any of the following countries, namely, England and Wales, Scotland, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man (the reference to Guernsey being treated as including Alderney and Sark).

4.—(1) References to the trial or first trial in any proceedings do not include references to the separate trial of an issue as to jurisdiction only. N.I.

(2) For the purposes of this Schedule, proceedings in the court are continuing if they are pending and not stayed.

5.  Any reference in this Schedule to proceedings in another jurisdiction is to proceedings in a court of that jurisdiction, and to any other proceedings in that jurisdiction, which are of a description prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph; and provision may be made by rules of court as to when proceedings of any description in another jurisdiction are continuing for the purposes of this Schedule. N.I.

6.  “Prescribed” means prescribed by rules of court. N.I.