Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1973

14 Transitional provision and saving

(1) No proceedings for divorce shall be entertained by the court by virtue of section 13(2) or (5) of this Act while proceedings for divorce or nullity of marriage begun before the commencement of this Act are pending (in respect of the same marriage) in England and Wales, Scotland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man; and provision may be made by rules under section 7 of the [1962 c. 30.] Northern Ireland Act 1962 as to when for the purposes of this subsection proceedings are to be treated as begun or pending in any of those places.

(2) In section 4(1) of the [1951 c. 7 (N.I.).] Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1951 (which confers on the court jurisdiction to entertain an application for maintenance by a wife where it would have jurisdiction to entertain proceedings for judicial separation) for the words from " if it would " to " separation " the following shall be substituted—

“if—

(a) the wife or the husband is domiciled in Northern Ireland; or

(b) the wife has been habitually resident there through out the period of one year ending with that date or;

(c) the husband is resident there on that date.”.

(3) Nothing in this Part of this Act affects the court's jurisdiction to entertain any proceedings begun before the commencement of this Act.