The Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989

[F1 Role of the High Court N.I.

F1 Pt. 7A (arts. 208A-208X) inserted (30.6.2011) by Debt Relief Act (Northern Ireland) 2010 (c. 16), ss. 1(b), 7(1); S.R. 2011/13, art. 2

Powers of High Court in relation to debt relief orders N.I.

208M— (1) Any person may make an application to the High Court if he is dissatisfied by any act, omission or decision of the official receiver in connection with a debt relief order or an application for such an order.

(2) The official receiver may make an application to the High Court for directions or an order in relation to any matter arising in connection with a debt relief order or an application for such an order.

(3) The matters referred to in paragraph (2) include, among other things, matters relating to the debtor's compliance with any duty arising under Article 208J.

(4) An application under this Article may, subject to anything in the rules, be made at any time.

(5) The High Court may extend the moratorium period applicable to a debt relief order for the purposes of determining an application under this Article.

(6) On an application under this Article the High Court may dismiss the application or do one or more of the following—

(a) quash the whole or part of any act or decision of the official receiver;

(b) give the official receiver directions (including a direction that he reconsider any matter in relation to which his act or decision has been quashed under sub-paragraph (a));

(c) make an order for the enforcement of any obligation on the debtor arising by virtue of a duty under Article 208J;

(d) extend the moratorium period applicable to the debt relief order;

(e) make an order revoking or amending the debt relief order;

(f) make an order under Article 208N; or

(g) make such other order as the Court thinks fit.

(7) An order under paragraph (6)(e) for the revocation of a debt relief order—

(a) may be made during the moratorium period applicable to the debt relief order or at any time after that period has ended;

(b) may be made on the High Court's own motion if the Court has made a bankruptcy order in relation to the debtor during that period;

(c) may provide for the revocation of the order to take effect on such terms and at such a time as the Court may specify.

(8) An order under paragraph (6)(e) for the amendment of a debt relief order may not add any debts that were not specified in the application for the debt relief order to the list of qualifying debts.

Inquiry into debtor's dealings and property N.I.

208N— (1) An order under this Article may be made by the High Court on the application of the official receiver.

(2) An order under this Article is an order summoning any of the following persons to appear before the High Court—

(a) the debtor;

(b) the debtor's spouse or former spouse or the debtor's civil partner or former civil partner;

(c) any person appearing to the Court to be able to give information or assistance concerning the debtor or his dealings, affairs and property.

(3) The High Court may require a person falling within paragraph (2)(c)—

(a) to provide a written account of his dealings with the debtor; or

(b) to produce any documents in his possession or under his control relating to the debtor or to the debtor's dealings, affairs or property.

(4) Paragraph (5) applies where a person fails without reasonable excuse to appear before the High Court when he is summoned to do so by an order under this Article.

(5) The High Court may cause a warrant to be issued to a constable—

(a) for the arrest of that person, and

(b) for the seizure of any records or other documents in that person's possession.

(6) The High Court may authorise a person arrested under such a warrant to be kept in custody, and anything seized under such a warrant to be held, in accordance with the rules, until that person is brought before the Court under the warrant or until such other time as the Court may order.]