The Family Procedure Rules 2010

[F1 Variation and discharge by the court of its own initiative E+W

39.16.— (1) The powers conferred by section 9(1) of the 1971 Act may be exercised by the court of its own initiative in the circumstances specified in this rule.

(2) Where it appears to the court that a person served with an attachment of earnings order does not employ the debtor, the court must discharge the order.

(3) Where an attachment of earnings order which has lapsed under section 9(4) of the 1971 Act is again directed to a person who appears to the court to employ the debtor, the court may make such consequential variations in the order as it thinks fit.

(4) Where the court has made an attachment of earnings order and it appears to the court that the related maintenance order has ceased to have effect (whether by virtue of the terms of the maintenance order or under section 28 of the 1973 Act or otherwise), the court may discharge or vary the attachment of earnings order.

(5) The court may discharge the attachment of earnings order where an attachment of earnings order has been made to secure payments under a maintenance order and—

(a) the court makes an order for another form of enforcement for the recovery of payments under the maintenance order; or

(b) there is no further sum payable under the maintenance order.

(6) Before varying or discharging an attachment of earnings order of its own initiative under any of the paragraphs of this rule, the court must, unless it thinks it unnecessary in the circumstances to do so, give the debtor, and the person on whose application the order was made, an opportunity of being heard on the question of whether the order should be varied or discharged.

(7) The court officer must give those people mentioned in paragraph (6) notice of the date, time and place fixed for the hearing.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Pt. 39 inserted (6.4.2016) by The Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2016 (S.I. 2016/355), rules 1(2), 8(a), Sch. 1 (with rule 9)