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Child Support Act 1991
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Changes to legislation:
Child Support Act 1991, Section 39C is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 12 January 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 39C:
- s. 4(3A)(3B) inserted by 2023 c. 24 s. 1(2)
- s. 4(4)(d) and word inserted by 2023 c. 24 s. 1(3)(b)
- s. 7(4A)(4B) inserted by 2023 c. 24 s. 2(2)
- s. 7(5)(d) and word inserted by 2023 c. 24 s. 2(3)(b)
- s. 9A inserted by 2012 c. 5 s. 138
- s. 20(1)(ba) inserted by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 7 para. 1(3)
- s. 20(2)(aa) inserted by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 7 para. 1(4)
- s. 20(5A) inserted by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 7 para. 1(5)
- s. 20(7A) inserted by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 7 para. 1(6)
- s. 30(5A) added by 1995 c. 34 Sch. 3 para. 9
- s. 31(8) (9) substituted for s. 31(8) by 2008 c. 6 s. 21
- s. 32M 32N inserted by 2008 c. 6 s. 25
- s. 32M(1) substituted by 2023 c. 35 s. 2
- s. 32M(3) words substituted by 2023 c. 35 s. 4(3)
- s. 32N(2)(ba) inserted by 2023 c. 35 s. 3
- s. 32N(3)-(5) inserted by 2023 c. 35 s. 4(2)
- s. 38(1)(aa) inserted by 2007 asp 3 Sch. 5 para. 18(a)(i)
- s. 38(1)(aa) word substituted by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 3 para. 40(b) (This amendment will come into force (a) in relation to Scotland, immediately after 2007 asp 3, Sch. 5 par. 18(a)(i) comes into force, and (b) in relation to England and Wales, immediately after 2007 asp 3, Sch. 5 par. 18(a)(i) extends to England and Wales. See S.I. 2008/2675, art. 2)
- s. 39C title words substituted by 2009 c. 24 Sch. 5 para. 3(6)
- s. 39C(1)-(1B) substituted for s. 39C(1) by 2009 c. 24 s. 51(3)
- s. 39C(2) words substituted by 2009 c. 24 Sch. 5 para. 3(2)(a)
- s. 39C(2) words substituted by 2009 c. 24 Sch. 5 para. 3(2)(b)
- s. 39C(3) words substituted by 2009 c. 24 Sch. 5 para. 3(3)(a)
- s. 39C(3) words substituted by 2009 c. 24 Sch. 5 para. 3(3)(b)
- s. 39C(4) words substituted by 2009 c. 24 Sch. 5 para. 3(4)(a)
- s. 39C(4)(a) words substituted by 2009 c. 24 Sch. 5 para. 3(4)(b)
- s. 39C(5) words substituted by 2009 c. 24 Sch. 5 para. 3(5)(a)
- s. 39C(5) words substituted by 2009 c. 24 Sch. 5 para. 3(5)(b)
- s. 39E(1A) inserted by 2009 c. 24 Sch. 5 para. 5(3)
- s. 39H-39Q inserted by 2008 c. 6 s. 28
- s. 39CA 39CB inserted by 2009 c. 24 s. 51(4)
- s. 39DA inserted by 2009 c. 24 s. 51(5)
- s. 40(2A)-(2D) inserted by 2008 c. 6 s. 29(1)
- s. 40(10)-(10C) substituted for s. 40(10) by 2008 c. 6 s. 29(2)
- s. 40A(A1)-(A4) inserted by 2008 c. 6 s. 29(3)
- s. 40A(6)(a) words in s. 40A(6) renumbered as s. 40A(6)(a) by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 7 para. 1(14)
- s. 40A(6)(b) inserted by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 7 para. 1(14)
- s. 40A(7A)-(7D) inserted by 2008 c. 6 s. 29(4)
- s. 40B(A1)-(1) substituted for heading and s. 40B(1) by 2008 c. 6 s. 30(1)
- s. 40B(10)-(10C) substituted for s. 40B(10) by 2008 c. 6 s. 30(2)
- s. 40B(13) inserted by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 7 para. 1(18)
- s. 49A inserted by 2008 c. 6 s. 34
- s. 49A(8)(b) words inserted by 2023 c. 24 s. 3(4)
- s. 49B 49C inserted by 2008 c. 6 s. 39
- s. 52(2A)(aa) inserted by 2023 c. 35 s. 4(4)
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- s. 4(3A)(3B) inserted by 2023 c. 24 s. 1(2)
- s. 4(4)(d) and word inserted by 2023 c. 24 s. 1(3)(b)
- s. 7(4A)(4B) inserted by 2023 c. 24 s. 2(2)
- s. 7(5)(d) and word inserted by 2023 c. 24 s. 2(3)(b)
- s. 9A inserted by 2012 c. 5 s. 138
- s. 20(1)(ba) inserted by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 7 para. 1(3)
- s. 20(2)(aa) inserted by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 7 para. 1(4)
- s. 20(5A) inserted by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 7 para. 1(5)
- s. 20(7A) inserted by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 7 para. 1(6)
- s. 30(5A) added by 1995 c. 34 Sch. 3 para. 9
- s. 31(8) (9) substituted for s. 31(8) by 2008 c. 6 s. 21
- s. 32M 32N inserted by 2008 c. 6 s. 25
- s. 32M(1) substituted by 2023 c. 35 s. 2
- s. 32M(3) words substituted by 2023 c. 35 s. 4(3)
- s. 32N(2)(ba) inserted by 2023 c. 35 s. 3
- s. 32N(3)-(5) inserted by 2023 c. 35 s. 4(2)
- s. 38(1)(aa) inserted by 2007 asp 3 Sch. 5 para. 18(a)(i)
- s. 38(1)(aa) word substituted by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 3 para. 40(b) (This amendment will come into force (a) in relation to Scotland, immediately after 2007 asp 3, Sch. 5 par. 18(a)(i) comes into force, and (b) in relation to England and Wales, immediately after 2007 asp 3, Sch. 5 par. 18(a)(i) extends to England and Wales. See S.I. 2008/2675, art. 2)
- s. 39C(1)-(1B) substituted for s. 39C(1) by 2009 c. 24 s. 51(3)
- s. 39E(1A) inserted by 2009 c. 24 Sch. 5 para. 5(3)
- s. 39H-39Q inserted by 2008 c. 6 s. 28
- s. 39CA 39CB inserted by 2009 c. 24 s. 51(4)
- s. 39DA inserted by 2009 c. 24 s. 51(5)
- s. 40(2A)-(2D) inserted by 2008 c. 6 s. 29(1)
- s. 40(10)-(10C) substituted for s. 40(10) by 2008 c. 6 s. 29(2)
- s. 40A(A1)-(A4) inserted by 2008 c. 6 s. 29(3)
- s. 40A(6)(a) words in s. 40A(6) renumbered as s. 40A(6)(a) by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 7 para. 1(14)
- s. 40A(6)(b) inserted by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 7 para. 1(14)
- s. 40A(7A)-(7D) inserted by 2008 c. 6 s. 29(4)
- s. 40B(A1)-(1) substituted for heading and s. 40B(1) by 2008 c. 6 s. 30(1)
- s. 40B(10)-(10C) substituted for s. 40B(10) by 2008 c. 6 s. 30(2)
- s. 40B(13) inserted by 2008 c. 6 Sch. 7 para. 1(18)
- s. 49A inserted by 2008 c. 6 s. 34
- s. 49A(8)(b) words inserted by 2023 c. 24 s. 3(4)
- s. 49B 49C inserted by 2008 c. 6 s. 39
- s. 52(2A)(aa) inserted by 2023 c. 35 s. 4(4)
[F139CPeriod for which orders under section 39B are to have effectE+W+S
(1)Disqualification by an order under section 39B shall be for such period not exceeding two years as the court may specify in the order.
(2)On making an order under section 39B, the court may include in the order provision suspending the running of the period for which the order is to have effect until such day and on such conditions (if any) as the court thinks just.
(3)After making such an order the court may by order suspend the running of the period for which it has effect until such day and on such conditions (if any) as the court thinks just.
(4)The powers conferred by subsections (2) and (3) may be exercised by the court only—
(a)if the person against whom the order under section 39B is made agrees to pay the amount specified in the order; or
(b)if the court is satisfied that the suspension in question is justified by exceptional circumstances.
(5)The [F2Secretary of State] may make a further application under section 39B if the amount specified in an order under that section has not been paid in full by the end of the period for which the order has effect.]
Textual Amendments
F1Ss. 39B-39G inserted (29.11.2018 for specified purposes, 14.12.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008 (c. 6), ss. 27, 62(3); S.I. 2018/1261, art. 2(a)(b)
F2Words in s. 39C(5) substituted (1.8.2012) by The Public Bodies (Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Abolition and Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2007), art. 3(2), Sch. para. 80(3)
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