(1)The Lord Chancellor may by regulations make provision—
(a)as to the jurisdiction of courts in England and Wales F1. . . in proceedings for the dissolution or annulment of a civil partnership or for legal separation of the civil partners in cases where a civil partner—
(i)is or has been habitually resident in a member State,
(ii)is a national of a member State, or
(iii)is domiciled in a part of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, and
(b)as to the recognition in England and Wales F1. . . of any judgment of a court of another member State which orders the dissolution or annulment of a civil partnership or the legal separation of the civil partners.
[F2(1A)The Department of Justice in Northern Ireland may by regulations make provision—
(a)as to the jurisdiction of courts in Northern Ireland in proceedings for the dissolution or annulment of a civil partnership or for legal separation of the civil partners in such cases as are mentioned in subsection (1)(a), and
(b)as to the recognition in Northern Ireland of any such judgment as is mentioned in subsection (1)(b).]
(2)The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision—
(a)as to the jurisdiction of courts in Scotland in proceedings for the dissolution or annulment of a civil partnership or for legal separation of the civil partners in such cases as are mentioned in subsection (1)(a), and
(b)as to the recognition in Scotland of any such judgment as is mentioned in subsection (1)(b).
(3)The regulations may in particular make provision corresponding to that made by Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 of 27th November 2003 in relation to jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters.
(4)The regulations may provide that for the purposes of this Part and the regulations “member State” means—
(a)all member States with the exception of such member States as are specified in the regulations, or
(b)such member States as are specified in the regulations.
(5)The regulations may make provision under subsections (1)(b) [F3, (1A)(b)] and (2)(b) which applies even if the date of the dissolution, annulment or legal separation is earlier than the date on which this section comes into force.
(6)Regulations under subsection (1) are to be made by statutory instrument and may only be made if a draft has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.
[F4(6A)Regulations under subsection (1A) are to be made by statutory rule for the purposes of the Statutory Rules (Northern Ireland) Order 1979.
(6B)No regulations shall be made under subsection (1A) unless a draft has been laid before and approved by resolution of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
(6C)Section 41(3) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 applies for the purposes of subsection (6B) in relation to the laying of a draft as it applies in relation to the laying of a statutory document under an enactment.]
(7)Regulations under subsection (2) are to be made by statutory instrument and may only be made if a draft has been laid before and approved by resolution of the Scottish Parliament.
(8)In this Part “section 219 regulations” means regulations made under this section.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 219(1)(a)(b) omitted (12.4.2010) by virtue of The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), art. 15(5), Sch. 18 para. 73(a) (with arts. 28-31)
F2S. 219(1A) inserted (12.4.2010) by The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), art. 15(5), Sch. 18 para. 73(b) (with arts. 28-31)
F3Word in s. 219(5) inserted (12.4.2010) by The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), art. 15(5), Sch. 18 para. 73(c) (with arts. 28-31)