- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As made)
The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995
You are here:
What Version
Advanced Features
- Show Geographical Extent(e.g. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)
- Show Timeline of Changes
More Resources
Changes over time for: Section 173
Alternative versions:
Changes to legislation:
The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, Section 173 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 22 December 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Article 173:
- art. 45(2(e) words repealed by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 5
- art. 7(2A)(ba) substituted for word by 2009 c. 24 Sch. 6 para. 26(2)
- art. 7(2B)(ba) substituted for word by 2009 c. 24 Sch. 6 para. 26(3)
- art. 10(5A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 26(b)
- art. 10(7A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 26(c)
- art. 14A?-14F and cross-heading inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 119(1)
- art. 14A(7) applied (with modifications) for specified purposes by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 26(6)
- art. 14C(1)(b) applied (with modifications) for specified purposes by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 26(7)(a)
- art. 14C(3)(4) excluded by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 26(7)(b)
- art. 18(6)-(6C) substituted for art. 18(6) by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 121(1)
- art. 22(3)(aa) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 29
- art. 26(1A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 122(1)
- art. 26A inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 123
- art. 27(7A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 125(3)
- art. 27(8)(c) and word added by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 122(2)(b)
- art. 27(9A)-(9D) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 124
- art. 28(4) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 125(4)
- art. 28A inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 126
- art. 28B inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 127
- art. 33(9) added by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 31(c)
- art. 34E(1)(d) and word inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 32(a)(iii)
- art. 34E(3)(4) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 32(b)
- art. 34F(1)(aa) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 33(a)(i)
- art. 34F(1A)-(1D) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 33(b)
- art. 34G inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 129
- art. 34AA inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 128(1)
- art. 34DA inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 128(2)
- art. 34DB 34DC inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 128(3)
- art. 35(1)-(1B) substituted for art. 35(1) by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 34(a)
- art. 35(5)(za) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 34(c)
- art. 35D(1)(aa)(ab) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 128(4)
- art. 35D(1A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 130(1)
- art. 45(2)(e)(i)(ii) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 131(a)
- art. 45(2)(f)(i)-(iii) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 131(b)
- art. 45(3A)-(3C) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 130(4)
- art. 45(4A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 130(6)
- art. 45(5A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 130(7)
- art. 45A?? inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 132
- art. 50A?? inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 134(1)
- art. 53(1)(ba) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 38(b)
- art. 53(6A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 135(3)
- art. 53(8)(za) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 135(4)
- art. 57(3A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 119(3)
- art. 60(6)(ha) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 138
- art. 107(7)(c) added by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 139(4)
- art. 108(2A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 140(3)
- art. 108(3)(c) and word added by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 140(4)(c)
- art. 112A inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 141
- art. 159(1)(c) and word added by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 119(4)(b)
- art. 165(2)(k) inserted by 2011 c. 24 (N.I.) s. 95(3)
- art. 170(2)-(9A) modified by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 105(3)
- art. 170(9A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 142
- art. 179(5A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 42
- art. 183(2A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 130(8)
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Order associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Order (including any effects on those provisions):
- art. 45(2(e) words repealed by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 5
- art. 7(2A)(ba) substituted for word by 2009 c. 24 Sch. 6 para. 26(2)
- art. 7(2B)(ba) substituted for word by 2009 c. 24 Sch. 6 para. 26(3)
- art. 10(5A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 26(b)
- art. 10(7A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 26(c)
- art. 14A?-14F and cross-heading inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 119(1)
- art. 14A(7) applied (with modifications) for specified purposes by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 26(6)
- art. 14C(1)(b) applied (with modifications) for specified purposes by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 26(7)(a)
- art. 14C(3)(4) excluded by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 26(7)(b)
- art. 18(6)-(6C) substituted for art. 18(6) by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 121(1)
- art. 22(3)(aa) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 29
- art. 26(1A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 122(1)
- art. 26A inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 123
- art. 27(7A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 125(3)
- art. 27(8)(c) and word added by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 122(2)(b)
- art. 27(9A)-(9D) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 124
- art. 28(4) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 125(4)
- art. 28A inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 126
- art. 28B inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 127
- art. 33(9) added by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 31(c)
- art. 34E(1)(d) and word inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 32(a)(iii)
- art. 34E(3)(4) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 32(b)
- art. 34F(1)(aa) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 33(a)(i)
- art. 34F(1A)-(1D) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 33(b)
- art. 34G inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 129
- art. 34AA inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 128(1)
- art. 34DA inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 128(2)
- art. 34DB 34DC inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 128(3)
- art. 35(1)-(1B) substituted for art. 35(1) by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 34(a)
- art. 35(5)(za) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 34(c)
- art. 35D(1)(aa)(ab) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 128(4)
- art. 35D(1A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 130(1)
- art. 45(2)(e)(i)(ii) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 131(a)
- art. 45(2)(f)(i)-(iii) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 131(b)
- art. 45(3A)-(3C) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 130(4)
- art. 45(4A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 130(6)
- art. 45(5A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 130(7)
- art. 45A?? inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 132
- art. 50A?? inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 134(1)
- art. 53(1)(ba) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 38(b)
- art. 53(6A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 135(3)
- art. 53(8)(za) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 135(4)
- art. 57(3A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 119(3)
- art. 60(6)(ha) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 138
- art. 107(7)(c) added by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 139(4)
- art. 108(2A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 140(3)
- art. 108(3)(c) and word added by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 140(4)(c)
- art. 112A inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 141
- art. 159(1)(c) and word added by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 119(4)(b)
- art. 165(2)(k) inserted by 2011 c. 24 (N.I.) s. 95(3)
- art. 170(2)-(9A) modified by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 105(3)
- art. 170(9A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 142
- art. 179(5A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 42
- art. 183(2A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 130(8)
Restrictions on use of wardship jurisdictionN.I.
173.—(1) The court shall not exercise its inherent jurisdiction with respect to children—
(a)so as to require a child to be placed in the care, or put under the supervision, of a F1... [F2Health and Social Care trust];
(b)so as to require a child to be accommodated by or on behalf of a F1... [F3Health and Social Care trust];
(c)so as to make a child who is the subject of a care order a ward of court; or
(d)for the purpose of conferring on any F1... [F4Health and Social Care trust] power to determine any question which has arisen, or which may arise, in connection with any aspect of parental responsibility for a child.
(2) No application for any exercise of the court's inherent jurisdiction with respect to children may be made by an authority unless the authority has obtained the leave of the court.
(3) The court may only grant leave if it is satisfied that—
(a)the result which the authority wishes to achieve could not be achieved through the making of any order of a kind to which paragraph (4) applies; and
(b)there is reasonable cause to believe that if the court's inherent jurisdiction is not exercised with respect to the child he is likely to suffer significant harm.
(4) This paragraph applies to any order—
(a)made otherwise than in the exercise of the court's inherent jurisdiction; and
(b)which the authority is entitled to apply for (assuming, in the case of any application which may only be made with leave, that leave is granted).
(5) In this Article “the court” means the High Court.
F1Words in art. 173(1) omitted (1.4.2022) by virtue of Health and Social Care Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 3), s. 8(1)(b), Sch. 1 para. 164; S.R. 2022/102, art. 2(b)
F2Words in art. 173(1)(a) substituted (1.4.2009) by Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009 (c. 1), ss. 32, 34(3), Sch. 6 para. 1(1)(c) (with Sch. 6 para. 1(3)); S.R. 2009/114, art. 2
F3Words in art. 173(1)(b) substituted (1.4.2009) by Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009 (c. 1), ss. 32, 34(3), Sch. 6 para. 1(1)(c) (with Sch. 6 para. 1(3)); S.R. 2009/114, art. 2
F4Words in art. 173(1)(d) substituted (1.4.2009) by Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009 (c. 1), ss. 32, 34(3), Sch. 6 para. 1(1)(c) (with Sch. 6 para. 1(3)); S.R. 2009/114, art. 2
Options/Help
Print Options
PrintThe Whole Order
PrintThe Whole Part
PrintThis Section only
You have chosen to open The Whole Order
The Whole Order you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open The Whole Order as a PDF
The Whole Order you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open the Whole Order
The Whole Order you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Legislation is available in different versions:
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
See additional information alongside the content
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Opening Options
Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once
More Resources
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
- the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
- lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
- confers power and blanket amendment details
- all formats of all associated documents
- correction slips
- links to related legislation and further information resources
Timeline of Changes
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. This site additionally contains content derived from EUR-Lex, reused under the terms of the Commission Decision 2011/833/EU on the reuse of documents from the EU institutions. For more information see the EUR-Lex public statement on re-use.