Search Legislation

Advanced Search

Senior Courts Act 1981

Changes to legislation:

Senior Courts Act 1981 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 12 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Changes and effects yet to be applied by the editorial team are only applicable when viewing the latest version or prospective version of legislation. They are therefore not accessible when viewing legislation as at a specific point in time. To view the ‘Changes to Legislation’ information for this provision return to the latest version view using the options provided in the ‘What Version’ box above.

  1. Introductory Text

  2. Part I CONSTITUTION OF SUPREME COURT

    1. The Supreme Court

      1. 1. The Supreme Court.

    2. The Court of Appeal

      1. 2. The Court of Appeal.

      2. 3. Divisions of Court of Appeal.

    3. The High Court

      1. 4. The High Court.

      2. 5. Divisions of High Court.

      3. 6. The Patents, Admiralty and Commercial Courts.

      4. 7. Power to alter Divisions or transfer certain courts to different Divisions.

    4. The Crown Court

      1. 8. The Crown Court.

    5. Other provisions

      1. 9. Assistance for transaction of judicial business of Supreme Court.

      2. 10. Appointment of judges of Supreme Court.

      3. 11. Tenure of office of judges of Supreme Court.

      4. 12. Salaries etc. of judges of Supreme Court.

      5. 13. Precedence of judges of Supreme Court.

      6. 14. Power of judge of Supreme or Crown Court to act in cases relating to rates and taxes.

  3. Part II JURISDICTION

    1. The Court of Appeal

      1. 15. General jurisdiction of Court of Appeal.

      2. 16. Appeals from High Court.

      3. 17. Applications for new trial.

      4. 18. Restrictions on appeals to Court of Appeal.

    2. The High Court

      1. General jurisdiction

        1. 19. General jurisdiction of High Court.

      2. Admiralty jurisdiction

        1. 20. Admiralty jurisdiction of High Court.

        2. 21. Mode of exercise of Admiralty jurisdiction.

        3. 22. Restrictions on entertainment of actions in personam in collision and other similar cases.

        4. 23. High Court not to have jurisdiction in cases within Rhine Convention.

        5. 24. Supplementary provisions as to Admiralty jurisdiction.

      3. Other particular fields of jurisdiction

        1. 25. Probate jurisdiction of High Court.

        2. 26. Matrimonial jurisdiction of High Court.

        3. 27. Prize jurisdiction of High Court.

        4. 28. Appeals from Crown Court and inferior courts.

        5. 28A. Proceedings on case stated by magistrates’ court.

        6. 29. Orders of mandamus, prohibition and certiorari.

        7. 30. Injunctions to restrain persons from acting in offices in which they are not entitled to act.

        8. 31. Application for judicial review.

        9. 31A.Transfer of judicial review applications to Upper Tribunal

      4. Powers

        1. 32. Orders for interim payment.

        2. 32A. Orders for provisional damages for personal injuries.

        3. 33. Powers of High Court exercisable before commencement of action.

        4. 34. Power of High Court to order disclosure of documents, inspection of property etc. in proceedings for personal injuries or death.

        5. 35. Provisions supplementary to ss. 33 and 34.

        6. 35A. Power of High Court to award interest on debts and damages.

        7. 36. Subpoena issued by High Court to run throughout United Kingdom.

        8. 37. Powers of High Court with respect to injunctions and receivers.

        9. 38. Relief against forfeiture for non-payment of rent.

        10. 39. Execution of instrument by person nominated by High Court.

        11. 40. Attachment of debts.

        12. 40A. Administrative and clerical expenses of garnishees.

        13. 41. Wards of court.

        14. 42. Restriction of vexatious legal proceedings.

        15. 43. Power of High Court to vary sentence on certiorari.

        16. 43ZA. Power of High Court to vary committal in default.

        17. 43A. Specific powers of arbitrator exercisable by High Court.

      5. Other provisions

        1. 44. Extraordinary functions of judges of High Court.

    3. The Crown Court

      1. 45. General jurisdiction of Crown Court.

      2. 46. Exclusive jurisdiction of Crown Court in trial on indictment.

      3. 46A. Offences committed on ships and abroad.

      4. 47. Sentences and other orders of Crown Court when dealing with offenders.

      5. 48. Appeals to Crown Court.

    4. General Provisions

      1. Law and equity

        1. 49. Concurrent administration of law and equity.

        2. 50. Power to award damages as well as, or in substitution for, injunction or specific performance.

      2. Costs

        1. 51. Costs in civil division of Court of Appeal and High Court.

        2. 52. Costs in Crown Court.

  4. Part III PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

    1. The Court of Appeal

      1. Distribution of business

        1. 53. Distribution of business between civil and criminal divisions.

      2. Composition of court

        1. 54. Court of civil division.

        2. 55. Court of criminal division.

        3. 56. Judges not to sit on appeal from their own judgments, etc.

        4. 56A. Circuit judges not to sit on certain appeals.

        5. 56B. Allocation of cases in criminal division.

      3. Sittings and vacations

        1. 57. Sittings and vacations.

      4. Other provisions

        1. 58. Exercise of incidental jurisdiction in civil division.

        2. 59. Form of judgment of court of criminal division.

        3. 60. Rules of court, and decisions of Court of Appeal, as to whether judgment or order is final or interlocutory.

    2. The High Court

      1. Distribution of business

        1. 61. Distribution of business among Divisions.

        2. 62. Business of Patents, Admiralty and Commercial Courts.

        3. 63. Business assigned to specially nominated judges.

        4. 64. Choice of Division by plaintiff.

        5. 65. Power of transfer.

      2. Divisional courts

        1. 66. Divisional courts of High Court.

      3. Mode of conducting business

        1. 67. Proceedings in court and in chambers.

        2. 68. Exercise of High Court jurisdiction otherwise than by judges of that court.

        3. 69. Trial by jury.

        4. 70. Assessors and scientific advisers.

      4. Sittings and vacations

        1. 71. Sittings and vacations.

      5. Other provisions

        1. 72. Withdrawal of privilege against incrimination of self or spouse in certain proceedings.

    3. The Crown Court

      1. Composition of court

        1. 73. General provisions.

        2. 74. Appeals and committals for sentence.

      2. Distribution of business

        1. 75. Allocation of cases according to composition of court, etc.

        2. 76. Committal for trial: alteration of place of trial.

        3. 77. Committal for trial: date of trial.

      3. Sittings

        1. 78. Sittings.

      4. Other provisions

        1. 79. Practice and procedure in connection with indictable offences and appeals.

        2. 80. Process to compel appearance.

        3. 81. Bail.

        4. 82. Duties of officers of Crown Court.

        5. 83. Right of audience for solicitors in certain Crown Court centres.

    4. Rules of Court

      1. 84. Power to make rules of court.

      2. 85. The Supreme Court Rule Committee.

      3. 86. The Crown Court Rule Committee.

      4. 86A.Process for making rules of court under section 84

      5. 86B.Rules to be made if required by Lord Chancellor

      6. 87. Particular matters for which rules of court may provide.

  5. Part IV OFFICERS AND OFFICES

    1. Appointment of certain officers of Supreme Court

      1. 88. Qualification for office.

      2. 89. Masters and registrars.

      3. 90. Official Solicitor.

      4. 91. Deputies and temporary appointments.

    2. Other provisions relating to officers of Supreme Court

      1. 92. Tenure of office.

      2. 93. Status of officers for purposes of salary and pension.

      3. 94.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      4. 95. Property held by officers.

    3. Central Office and Accountant General

      1. 96. Central Office.

      2. 97. Accountant General.

    4. Judges’ clerks and secretaries

      1. 98. Judges’ clerks and secretaries.

    5. District registries and district registrars

      1. 99. District registries.

      2. 100. District registrars.

      3. 101. Power of one district registrar to act for another.

      4. 102. Deputy district registrars.

      5. 103. Assistant district registrars.

    6. District probate registries

      1. 104. District probate registries.

  6. Part V PROBATE CAUSES AND MATTERS

    1. Procedure in probate registries in relation to grants of representation

      1. 105. Applications.

      2. 106. Grants by district probate registrars.

      3. 107. No grant where conflicting applications.

      4. 108. Caveats.

      5. 109. Refusal of grant where capital transfer tax unpaid.

      6. 110. Documents to be delivered to Commissioners of Inland Revenue.

      7. 111. Records of grants.

    2. Powers of court in relation to personal representatives

      1. 112. Summons to executor to prove or renounce.

      2. 113. Power of court to sever grant.

      3. 114. Number of personal representatives.

      4. 115. Grants to trust corporations.

      5. 116. Power of court to pass over prior claims to grant.

      6. 117. Administration pending suit.

      7. 118. Effect of appointment of minor as executor.

      8. 119. Administration with will annexed.

      9. 120. Power to require administrators to produce sureties.

    3. Revocation of grants and cancellation of resealing at instance of court

      1. 121. Revocation of grants and cancellation of resealing at instance of court.

    4. Ancillary powers of court

      1. 122. Examination of person with knowledge of testamentary document.

      2. 123. Subpoena to bring in testamentary document.

    5. Provisions as to documents

      1. 124. Place for deposit of original wills and other documents.

      2. 125. Copies of wills and grants.

      3. 126. Depositories for wills of living persons.

    6. Probate rules

      1. 127. Probate rules.

    7. Interpretation of Part V and other probate provisions

      1. 128. Interpretation of Part V and other probate provisions.

  7. Part VI MISCELLANEOUS AND SUPPLEMENTARY

    1. Miscellaneous provisions

      1. 129. Lords Commissioners to represent Lord Chancellor when Great Seal in commission.

      2. 130. Fees to be taken in Supreme Court.

      3. 131. Conveyancing counsel of Supreme Court.

      4. 132. Proof of documents bearing seal or stamp of Supreme Court or any office thereof.

      5. 133. Enrolment and engrossment of instruments.

      6. 134. Powers of attorney deposited before October 1971.

      7. 135. Bonds given under order of court.

      8. 136. Production of documents filed in, or in custody of, Supreme Court.

      9. 137. Money paid into court under enactment subsequently repealed.

      10. 138. Effect of writs of execution against goods.

      11. 138A. Sales under executions.

      12. 138B. Protection of officer selling goods under execution.

      13. 139. Attachment of National Savings Bank deposits.

      14. 140. Enforcement of fines and forfeited recognizances.

      15. 141. Abolition of certain writs.

      16. 142. Selection of judges for trial of election petitions.

      17. 143.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      18. 144.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      19. 145. Amendment of Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968.

      20. 146. Amendment of Courts Act 1971.

      21. 147. Amendment of Solicitors Act 1974.

      22. 148. Amendment of Arbitration Act 1979.

      23. 149.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    2. Supplementary

      1. 150. Admiralty jurisdiction: provisions as to Channel Islands, Isle of Man, colonies etc.

      2. 151. Interpretation of this Act, and rules of construction for other Acts and documents.

      3. 152. Amendments of other Acts, transitional provisions, savings and repeals.

      4. 153. Citation, commencement and extent.

  8. SCHEDULES

    1. SCHEDULE 1

      Distribution of Business in High Court

      1. Chancery Division

        1. 1.To the Chancery Division are assigned all causes and matters...

      2. Queen’s Bench Division

        1. 2.To the Queen’s Bench Division are assigned—

      3. Family Division

        1. 3.To the Family Division are assigned— (a) all matrimonial causes...

    2. SCHEDULE 2

      List of Offices in Supreme Court for Purposes of Part IV

      1. Part I

      2. Part II

      3. Part III

    3. SCHEDULE 3

    4. SCHEDULE 4

      Construction of References to Superseded Courts and Officers

      1. General

        1. 1.(1) So much of any enactment as refers or relates...

      2. The Accountants-General of the Courts of Chancery and Exchequer

        1. 2.Any enactment or document referring to the Accountant-General of the...

      3. The Court of Criminal Appeal and its registrar

        1. 3.In any enactment or document passed or made before 1st...

      4. Principal registrar of Family Division

        1. 4.In any enactment or document passed or made before the...

    5. SCHEDULE 5

      Consequential Amendments

      1. COLONIAL PROBATES ACT 1892 (c. 6)

        1. In section 2(1), for “156A of the Supreme Court of...

        2. . . . . . . . . . ....

        3. . . . . . . . . . ....

      2. ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES ACT 1925 (c. 23)

        1. In section 47A(7) (notices to principal registrar of Family Division)—...

      3. LAW OF PROPERTY (AMENDMENT) ACT 1926 (c. 11)

        1. In section 3(1), “for Supreme Court of Judicature (Consolidation) Act...

      4. FOREIGN JUDGMENTS (RECIPROCAL ENFORCEMENT) ACT 1933 (c. 13)

        1. 1.In section 3(1), for “ninety-nine of the Supreme Court of...

        2. 2.. . . . . . . . . ....

      5. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 1933 (c. 36)

        1. Section 2(2)(b) shall continue to have effect with the amendments...

        2. . . . . . . . . . ....

        3. . . . . . . . . . ....

      6. CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 1948 (c. 58)

        1. In section 37(4), for “ninety-nine of the Supreme Court of...

      7. CONSULAR CONVENTIONS ACT 1949 (c. 29)

        1. In section 1(4)— for “(1) of section one hundred and...

      8. ARBITRATION ACT 1950 (c. 27)

        1. In section 38(3), for “ninety-nine of the Supreme Court of...

      9. ARMY ACT 1955 (c. 18)

        1. Section 110(1) shall continue to have effect with the amendments...

      10. AIR FORCE ACT 1955 (c. 19)

        1. Section 110(1) shall continue to have effect with the amendments...

        2. . . . . . . . . . ....

        3. . . . . . . . . . ....

        4. . . . . . . . . . ....

        5. . . . . . . . . . ....

      11. PROFESSIONS SUPPLEMENTARY TO MEDICINE ACT 1960 (c. 66)

        1. In paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 2, for “forty-nine of the...

      12. NURSES (AMENDMENT) ACT 1961 (c. 14)

        1. In section 9(2), for “forty-nine of the Supreme Court of...

      13. RIVERS (PREVENTION OF POLLUTION) ACT 1961 (c. 50)

        1. In section 6(5), for “twenty-seven of the Supreme Court of...

      14. PUBLIC HEALTH ACT 1961 (c. 64)

        1. In section 66(1), for “twenty-seven of the Supreme Court of...

      15. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE ACT 1964 (c. 42)

        1. In section 28 (exception of prerogative proceedings from general power...

      16. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE ACT 1965 (c. 2)

        1. 1.In section 4(1) (mode of effecting payment of money into...

        2. 2.In section 6 (mode of dealing with money in Supreme...

        3. 3.In section 18, in the definition of “Supreme Court”, for...

      17. VETERINARY SURGEONS ACT 1966 (c. 36)

        1. In paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 2, for “49 of the...

      18. ARBITRATION (INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT DISPUTES) ACT 1966 (c. 41)

        1. In sections 1(6) and 2(2), for “99 of the Supreme...

      19. MATRIMONIAL CAUSES ACT 1967 (c. 56)

        1. In section 10(1), for the definition of “matrimonial cause” substitute—...

      20. CRIMINAL APPEAL ACT 1968 (c. 19)

        1. 1.In section 33 (right of appeal to House of Lords...

        2. 2.For subsection (1) of, and the side-note to, section 45...

        3. 3.In Schedule 2 (provisions applicable on order for retrial), paragraph...

      21. HEARING AID COUNCIL ACT 1968 (c. 50)

        1. In section 10(2), for “49 of the Supreme Court of...

      22. HOVERCRAFT ACT 1968 (c. 59)

        1. 1.In section 1(1)(h)(i) (power to apply to hovercraft etc. enactments...

        2. 2.(1) Section 2 (Admiralty jurisdiction etc.) shall be amended as...

        3. . . . . . . . . . ....

        4. . . . . . . . . . ....

      23. ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES ACT 1971 (c. 25)

        1. 1.(1) Section 11 (sealing of Commonwealth and Colonial grants) shall...

        2. 2.In section 14(3), for “8” substitute “ 9 ”.

      24. MISUSE OF DRUGS ACT 1971 (c. 38)

        1. In paragraph 5(2) of Schedule 3, for “49 of the...

      25. MERCHANT SHIPPING (OIL POLLUTION) ACT 1971 (c. 59)

        1. In section 13(1) (extension of Admiralty jurisdiction in claims for...

      26. TRIBUNALS AND INQUIRIES ACT 1971 (c. 62)

        1. In section 13(2), for “27 of the Supreme Court of...

        2. . . . . . . . . . ....

      27. LAND CHARGES ACT 1972 (c. 61)

        1. In section 6(4) (effect of non-registration of writs and orders...

      28. HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ETC. ACT 1974 (c. 37)

        1. In section 69(4), for “27 of the Supreme Court of...

        2. . . . . . . . . . ....

      29. MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT 1974 (c. 43)

        1. In section 6(1) (extension of Admiralty jurisdiction in claims for...

      30. SOLICITORS ACT 1974 (c. 47)

        1. 1.In section 19(2), for “120 of the Supreme Court of...

        2. 2.After section 81 insert— Fees for administering oaths and taking...

      31. HOUSE OF COMMONS DISQUALIFICATION ACT 1975 (c. 24)

        1. In Part III of Schedule 1, in the entry beginning...

      32. NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY DISQUALIFICATION ACT 1975 (c. 25)

        1. Part 111 of Schedule 1 shall have effect with the...

      33. EVIDENCE (PROCEEDINGS IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS) ACT 1975 (c. 34)

        1. 1.In section 4 (extension of powers of High Court etc....

        2. 2.In section 7, for “99 of the Supreme Court of...

      34. FARRIERS (REGISTRATION) ACT 1975 (c. 35)

        1. In paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 3, for “49 of the...

      35. TORTS (INTERFERENCE WITH GOODS) ACT 1977 (c. 32)

        1. In section 4— in subsection (4), for “99 of the...

      36. INSURANCE BROKERS (REGISTRATION) ACT 1977 (c. 46)

        1. In section 19(2), for “49 of the Supreme Court of...

        2. . . . . . . . . . ....

      37. EMPLOYMENT PROTECTION (CONSOLIDATION) ACT 1978 (c. 44)

        1. In paragraph 8(2) of Schedule 11, for “9 of the...

      38. ARBITRATION ACT 1979 (c. 42)

        1. In section 2(3), for “27 of the Supreme Court of...

      39. CHARGING ORDERS ACT 1979 (c. 53)

        1. In section 5(2), for “99 of the Supreme Court of...

      40. MAGISTRATES’ COURTS ACT 1980 (c. 43)

        1. 1.After section 43 insert— Functions of magistrates’ court where a...

        2. 2.In section 87(2) for “penalty” substitute “ sum ”.

        3. . . . . . . . . . ....

      41. JUDICIAL PENSIONS ACT 1981 (c. 20)

        1. 1.For subsection (2) of section 34 (county court registrars and...

        2. 2.Schedule 1 (pensions, etc. of certain judicial officers) shall be...

    6. SCHEDULE 6

      Transitional Provisions and Savings

      1. 1.. . . . . . . . . ....

      2. Continuity of appointments of officers

        1. 2.(1) Any person holding an office immediately before the commencement...

      3. Tenure, etc. of certain officers

        1. 3.. . . . . . . . . ....

        2. 4.. . . . . . . . . ....

        3. 5.This Act, so far as it amends or repeals any...

        4. 6.. . . . . . . . . ....

      4. Inland Revenue affidavits

        1. 7.In relation to deaths occurring before 13th March 1975 (the...

      5. Grants of representation made under provisions of 1925 Act not reproduced in this Act

        1. 8.Nothing in the repeals made by this Act shall affect—...

      6. Minor executors

        1. 9.Any appointment of a minor as executor which, immediately before...

      7. Administration bonds given before 1st January 1972

        1. 10.Nothing in this Act shall affect the continued operation of...

      8. Grants and resealings liable to revocation or cancellation at instance of court

        1. 11.Section 121 applies whether the grant in question was made...

      9. Appeals from certain orders and decisions under section 54(3) of Magistrates’ Courts Act 1952

        1. 12.In paragraph 3(d) of Schedule 1, the reference to an...

      10. Interpretation

        1. 13.(1) In this Schedule “the 1925 Act” means the Supreme...

    7. SCHEDULE 7

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

You have chosen to open The Whole Act

The Whole Act 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 Act as a PDF

The Whole Act 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 Act

The Whole Act 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?

Close

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.

Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

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
Close

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.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. 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
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources

The data on this page is available in the alternative data formats listed: