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Matrimonial Causes Act 1973
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22 Maintenance pending suit.E+W
[F1(1)]On [F2an application for a divorce, nullity of marriage or judicial separation order,] the court may make an order for maintenance pending suit, that is to say, an order requiring either party to the marriage to make to the other such periodical payments for his or her maintenance and for such term, being a term beginning not earlier than the date of the [F3making of the application] and ending with the date of the determination of the suit, as the court thinks reasonable.
[F4(2)An order under this section may not require a party to a marriage to pay to the other party any amount in respect of legal services for the purposes of the proceedings.
(3)In subsection (2) “legal services” has the same meaning as in section 22ZA.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 22 renumbered as s. 22(1) (1.4.2013) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 49(1)(a), 151(1); S.I. 2013/773, art. 2
F2Words in s. 22(1) substituted (6.4.2022) by Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 (c. 11), s. 8(1)(8), Sch. para. 19(a) (with s. 8(4)(5)(6)); S.I. 2022/283, reg. 2
F3Words in s. 22(1) substituted (6.4.2022) by Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 (c. 11), s. 8(1)(8), Sch. para. 19(b) (with s. 8(4)(5)(6)); S.I. 2022/283, reg. 2
F4S. 22(2)(3) inserted (1.4.2013) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 49(1)(b), 151(1); S.I. 2013/773, art. 2
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