Civil Partnership Act 2004

15 (1) For the purposes of Parts 2 and 3 of this Schedule, “the court” means—

(a) the High Court,

(b) the county court of the district in which any applicant or respondent resides, or

(c) a magistrates' court acting in the local justice area in which any applicant or respondent resides.

(2) Rules of court may be made for enabling applications under Part 2 or 3 of this Schedule—

(a) if made to the High Court, to be heard in chambers;

(b) if made to the county court, to be heard and determined by the district judge subject to appeal to the judge;

(c) if made to a magistrates' court, to be heard and determined otherwise than in open court.

(3) Rules of court must provide that, where an application is made in consequence of a refusal to give consent, notice of the application is to be served on the person who has refused consent.