Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

The Maintenance Enforcement Act 1991 makes provision for courts to direct themethods by which payment may be made in the enforcement of a maintenance order.

In consequence of the 1991 Act, these Rules amend various rules which govern domestic and international procedures for effecting the reciprocal enforcement of maintenance orders and claims for maintenance.

The main effect of these Rules is to require the clerk to the justices in a magistrates' court to notify the payer of maintenance of the method by which he should pay and, if payment is to be made by standing order or a similar method, the number and location of the account into which payment should be made.

The Rules also require the clerk to the justices, where he has received an application for the method of payment to be varied, to notify the parties of the result of the application and record any variation on the copy of the order.