Matrimonial interdictsS

14 Interdict competent where spouses live together.S

(1)It shall not be incompetent for the court to entertain an application by a spouse for a matrimonial interdict by reason only that the spouses are living together as man and wife.

(2)In this section F1... of this Act—

  • “matrimonial interdict” means an interdict including an interim interdict which—

(a)restrains or prohibits any conduct of one spouse towards the other spouse or a child of the family, or

[F2(b)subject to subsection (3), prohibits a spouse from entering or remaining in—

(i)a matrimonial home;

(ii)any other residence occupied by the applicant spouse;

(iii)any place of work of the applicant spouse;

(iv)any school attended by a child in the permanent or temporary care of the applicant spouse.]

[F3(3)Subsection (4) applies if in relation to a matrimonial home the non-applicant spouse—

(a)is an entitled spouse; or

(b)has occupancy rights.

(4)Except where subsection (5) applies, the court may not grant a matrimonial interdict prohibiting the non-applicant spouse from entering or remaining in the matrimonial home.

(5)This subsection applies if—

(a)the interdict is ancillary to an exclusion order; or

(b)by virtue of section 1(3), the court refuses leave to exercise occupancy rights.

(6) In this section and in sections 15 to 17, “ applicant spouse ” means the spouse who has applied for the interdict; and “ non-applicant spouse ” shall be construed accordingly. ]

Textual Amendments