Matrimonial Causes Act 1965

22 Neglect to maintain

(1) Where—

(a) a husband has been guilty of wilful neglect to provide reasonable maintenance for his wife or any child to whom this subsection applies ; and

(b) the court would have jurisdiction to entertain proceedings by the wife for judicial separation,

then, without prejudice to the provisions of section 35(2) of this Act, the court may on the application of the wife order the husband to make to her such periodical payments as may be just.

(2) The foregoing subsection applies to any infant child of the marriage in question and any infant illegitimate child of both parties to the marriage.

(3) Where the court makes an order under subsection (1) of this section—

(a) the order may be enforced in the same manner as an order for alimony in proceedings for judicial separation; and

(b) the court may, if it thinks fit, order that the husband shall, to the satisfaction of the court, secure the periodical payments to the wife and may for that purpose give such a direction as is mentioned in section 16(2)(a) of this Act.