Civil Partnership Act 2004

164 Proceedings before order has been made final N.I.

(1) This section applies if—

(a) a conditional order has been made, and

(b) the Crown Solicitor, or any person who has not been a party to proceedings in which the order was made, shows cause why the order should not be made final on the ground that material facts have not been brought before the court.

(2) This section also applies if—

(a) a conditional order has been made,

(b) 3 months have elapsed since the earliest date on which an application could have been made for the order to be made final,

(c) no such application has been made by the civil partner who applied for the conditional order, and

(d) the other civil partner makes an application to the court under this subsection.

(3) The court may—

(a) make the order final,

(b) rescind the order,

(c) require further inquiry, or

(d) otherwise deal with the case as it thinks fit.

(4) Subsection (3)(a)—

(a) applies despite section 161(2) (period before conditional orders may be made final), but

(b) is subject to section 172(4) (protection for respondent in separation cases) and section 186 (restrictions on making of orders affecting children).