Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972

30 Further provisions relating to recovery in England, Wales and Northern Ireland of maintenance for children

(1) Where the complaint is for an order under section 9(2) of the [1971 c. 3.] Guardianship of Minors Act 1971, and the court hearing the complaint is satisfied that, if it made an order under subsection (1) of that section giving the custody of the minor to whom the complaint relates to the complainant, it would have power to make an order under subsection (2) of that section for the payment of sums towards the maintenance of the minor, it shall in determining whether to make an order on the complaint proceed as if it had made an order under subsection (1) of that section giving the custody of the minor to the complainant.

(2) Section 16(4) of the said Act of 1971 (refusal of order in case more suitable for the High Court) shall not apply in relation to a complaint to which subsection (1) above applies or in relation to an application for the variation or revocation of an order made on such a complaint.

(3) Where the complaint is for an affiliation order under the [1957 c. 55.] Affiliation Proceedings Act 1957 or the [1942 c. 27 (N.I.).] Illegitimate Children (Affiliation Orders) Act (Northern Ireland) 1924—

(a) it shall be sufficient for the purposes of paragraph (b) of section 2(1) of the said Act of 1957 (time for making complaint) or paragraph (c) of section 2(3) of the said Act of 1924 (provision to the like effect), as the case may be, to prove that the defendant has within the twelve months next after the birth of the child to whom the complaint relates paid money for its maintenance in pursuance of a requirement of the law applied by a court outside the United Kingdom; and

(b) any evidence of the complainant in support of the complaint given in a convention country a record or summary of which is received by the court hearing the complaint, or the court hearing an appeal against an affiliation order made on the complaint or against the refusal to make such an order, shall be treated by the court hearing the complaint or the court hearing such an appeal, as the case may be, as if it had been given by the complainant in person before that court.

(4) Where the complaint is for an affiliation order under the said Act of 1924, a summons may be issued on the complaint notwithstanding that the complainant has not made the information mentioned in section 2(4) of that Act.

(5) Without prejudice to any other enactment empowering a magistrates' court to vary an affiliation order made by it, an affiliation order made under the said Act of 1957 or the said Act of 1924, as the case may be, on the complaint may be varied by such a court so as to entitle any person, other than the complainant, who for the time being has the custody of the child to whom the order relates to any payments to be made under the order.

(6) Section 41 of this Act shall not apply in relation to an order under section 9(2) of the said Act of 1971, or an affiliation order under the said Act of 1957, made on the complaint.