The Magistrates’ Courts (Enforcement or Variation of Orders Made in Family Proceedings and Miscellaneous Provisions) Rules 2011

Payments in respect of a maintenance order registered in a magistrates’ court in England and Wales

26.—(1) This rule applies where in exercise of—

(a) the duty imposed by section 19(2) of the 1950 Act; or

(b) the powers conferred by section 18(2ZA)(1) or 22(1A) or (1E)(2) of the 1950 Act,

a magistrates’ court in England and Wales orders that payments under a maintenance order registered in that court are to be made by a particular means.

(2) The justices’ clerk must record on a copy of the order the means of payment which the court has ordered.

(3) As soon as practicable, the designated officer must notify in writing the person liable to make payments under the order of how payments are to be made.

(4) Where the court orders payment to the designated officer for the court, or to the designated officer for any other magistrates’ court, by a method of payment falling within section 59(6) of the 1980 Act (standing order etc.), the designated officer to whom payments are to be made must notify the person liable to make the payments under the order of sufficient details of the account into which the payments should be made to enable payments to be made into that account.

(5) Where, under section 60(4) of the 1980 Act(3) as modified by section 22(1E) of the 1950 Act, the court receives an application from an interested party for the method of payment to be varied—

(a) the designated officer must, as soon as practicable, notify in writing that interested party and, where practicable, any other interested party, of the result of the application, including any decision to refer the matter to the court; and

(b) where the justices’ clerk grants the application, the justices’ clerk must record the variation on a copy of the order.

(1)

Section 18(2ZA) was inserted by section 10 of and paragraph 3 of Schedule 1 to the Maintenance Enforcement Act 1991 (c.17) and amended by section 108(1) of and paragraph 88(1) and (2) of Schedule 8 to the Courts Act 2003.

(2)

Section 22(1A) and(1E) were inserted by section 10 of and paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 to the Maintenance Enforcement Act 1991 and amended by section 106 of and Part 5 of Schedule 15 to the Access to Justice Act 1999 (c.22) and section 109(1) of and Schedule 8, paragraph 89(1) and (2) of the Courts Act 2003.

(3)

Section 60(4) was amended by section 109(1) and (3) of and paragraphs 211(1) and (2) of Schedule 10 to the Courts Act 2003.