SCHEDULES
C1SCHEDULE 16Financial relief in court of summary jurisdiction etc.: Northern Ireland
Part 1Failure to maintain etc.: financial provision
Reconciliation
7
1
If before the hearing of any evidence in proceedings on an application for an order under this Part a statement is made to the court by or on behalf of the civil partners showing a possibility of reconciliation between them, the court must adjourn the proceedings for such period as it thinks fit.
2
If at any stage of the proceedings on an application for an order under this Part it appears to the court that there is a reasonable possibility of a reconciliation between the civil partners, the court may adjourn the proceedings for such period as it thinks fit to enable attempts to be made to effect a reconciliation.
3
If the court adjourns any proceedings under sub-paragraph (1) or (2), it may request that—
a
a suitably qualified person acting under arrangements made by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, or
b
any other person, willing and able to do so and acceptable to both parties, whom the court may appoint,
should attempt to effect a reconciliation between the civil partners.
4
If any such request is made, the person—
a
must report in writing to the court whether the attempt has been successful, but
b
must not include in the report any other information.
5
The powers conferred by this paragraph are additional to any other power of the court to adjourn proceedings.
Sch. 16: functions transferred (12.4.2010) by The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), art. 15(1), Sch. 17 para. 21(b) (with arts. 15(6), 28-31)