SCHEDULE 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.