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Statutory Instruments
1991 No. 1677 (L.21)
FAMILY PROCEEDINGS
The Children (Allocation of Proceedings) Order 1991
Made
20th June 1991
Laid before Parliament
1st August 1991
Coming into force
14th October 1991
The Lord Chancellor, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 92(9) and (10) of, and Part I of Schedule 11 to, the Children Act 1989(1), and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, hereby makes the following Order:-“
Citation, commencement and interpretation
1.-(1) This Order may be cited as the Children (Allocation of Proceedings) Order 1991 and shall come into force on 14th October 1991.
(2) In this Order, unless the context otherwise requires-“
"child"-“
(a)means, subject to sub-paragraph (b), a person under the age of 18 with respect to whom proceedings are brought, and
(b)where the proceedings are under Schedule 1, also includes a person who has reached the age of 18;
"London commission area" has the meaning assigned to it by section 2(1) of the Justices of the Peace Act 1979(2);
"petty sessions area" has the meaning assigned to it by section 4 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1979(3);and
"the Act" means the Children Act 1989, and a section, Part or Schedule referred to by number alone means the section, Part or Schedule so numbered in that Act.
Classes of county court
2. For the purposes of this Order there shall be the following classes of county court:
(a)divorce county courts, being those courts designated for the time being as divorce county courts by an order under section 33 of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984(4);
(b)family hearing centres, being those courts set out in Schedule 1 to this Order;
(c)care centres, being those courts set out in column (ii) of Schedule 2 to this Order.
COMMENCEMENT OF PROCEEDINGS
Proceedings to be commenced in magistrates' court
3.-(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) and to article 4, proceedings under any of the following provisions shall be commenced in a magistrates' court:
(a)section 25 (use of accommodation for restricting liberty);
(b)section 31 (care and supervision orders);
(c)section 33(7) (leave to change name of or remove from United Kingdom child in care);
(d)section 34 (parental contact);
(e)section 36 (education supervision orders);
(f)section 43 (child assessment orders);
(g)section 44 (emergency protection orders);
(h)section 45 (duration of emergency protection orders etc.);
(i)section 46(7) (application for emergency protection order by police officer);
(j)section 48 (powers to assist discovery of children etc.);
(k)section 50 (recovery orders);
(l)section 75 (protection of children in an emergency);
(m)section 77(6) (appeal against steps taken under section 77(1));
(n)section 102 (powers of constable to assist etc.);
(o)paragraph 19 of Schedule 2 (approval of arrangements to assist child to live abroad);
(p)paragraph 23 of Schedule 2 (contribution orders);
(q)paragraph 8 of Schedule 8 (certain appeals);
(r)section 21 of the Adoption Act 1976(5).
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (l) and subject to paragraph (3), proceedings of a kind set out in sub-paragraph (b), (e), (f), (g), (i) or (j) of paragraph (1), and which arise out of an investigation directed, by the High Court or a county court, under section 37(1), shall be commenced-
(a)in the court which directs the investigation, where that court is the High Court or a care centre, or
(b)in such care centre as the court which directs the investigation may order.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraphs (l) and (2), proceedings of a kind set out in subparagraph (a) to (k), (n) or (o) of paragraph (l) shall be made to a court in which are pending other proceedings, in respect of the same child, which are also of a kind set out in those sub-paragraphs.
Application to extend, vary or discharge order
4.-(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), proceedings under the Act, or under the Adoption Act 1976-“
(a)to extend, vary or discharge an order, or
(b)the determination of which may have the effect of varying or discharging an order,
shall be made to the court which made the order.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an application for an order under section 8 which would have the effect of varying or discharging an order made, by a county court, in accordance with section 10(l)(b) shall be made to a divorce county court.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an application to extend, vary or discharge an order made, by a county court, under section 38, or for an order which would have the effect of extending, varying or discharging such an order, shall be made to a care centre.
(4) A court may transfer proceedings made in accordance with paragraph (l) to any other court in accordance with the provisions of articles 5 to 13.
TRANSFER OF PROCEEDINGS
Disapplication of enactments about transfer
5. Sections 38 and 39 of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984(4) shall not apply to proceedings under the Act or under the Adoption Act 1976.
Transfer from one magistrates' court to another
6. A magistrates' court (the "transferring court") shall transfer proceedings under the Act or under the Adoption Act 1976 to another magistrates' court (the "receiving court") where-“
(a)having regard to the principle set out in section 1(2), the transferring court considers that the transfer is in the interests of the child-“
(i)because it is likely significantly to accelerate the determination of the proceedings,
(ii)because it would be appropriate for those proceedings to be heard together with other family proceedings which are pending in the receiving court, or
(iii)for some other reason, and
(b)the receiving court, by its justices' clerk (as defined by rule 1(2) of the Family Proceedings Courts (Children Act 1989) Rules 1991(6)), consents to the transfer.
Transfer from magistrates' court to county court by magistrates' court
7.-(1) Subject to paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) and to articles 15 to 18, a magistrates" court may, upon application by a party or of its own motion, transfer to a county court proceedings of any of the kinds mentioned in article 3(1) where it considers it in the interests of the child to do so having regard, first, to the principle set out in section 1(2) and, secondly, to the following questions:
(a)whether the proceedings are exceptionally grave, important or complex, in particular-“
(i)because of complicated or conflicting evidence about the risks involved to the child"s physical or moral well-being or about other matters relating to the welfare of the child;
(ii)because of the number of parties;
(iii)because of a conflict with the law of another jurisdiction;
(iv)because of some novel and difficult point of law; or
(v)because of some question of general public interest;
(b)whether it would be appropriate for those proceedings to be heard together with other family proceedings which are pending in another court; and
(c)whether transfer is likely significantly to accelerate the determination of the proceedings, where-“
(i)no other method of doing so, including transfer to another magistrates' court, is appropriate, and
(ii)delay would seriously prejudice the interests of the child who is the subject of the proceedings.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), proceedings of the kind mentioned in subparagraph (g) to (j), (1), (m), (p) or (q) of article 3(1) shall not be transferred from a magistrates' court.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), proceedings of the kind mentioned in subparagraph (a) or (n) of article 3(1) shall only be transferred from a magistrates'court to a county court in order to be heard together with other family proceedings which arise out of the same circumstances as gave rise to the proceedings to be transferred and which are pending in another court.
(4) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (3), proceedings of the kind mentioned in article 3(1)(a) shall not be transferred from a magistrates' court which is not a family proceedings court within the meaning of section 92(1).
8. Subject to articles 15 to 18, a magistrates" court may transfer to a county court proceedings under the Act or under the Adoption Act 1976, being proceedings to which article 7 does not apply, where, having regard to the principle set out in section 1(2), it considers that in the interests of the child the proceedings can be dealt with more appropriately in that county court.
Transfer from magistrates' court following refusal of magistrates' court to transfer
9.-(1) Where a magistrates' court refuses to transfer proceedings under article 7, a party to those proceedings may apply to the care centre listed in column (ii) of Schedule 2 to this Order against the entry in column (i) for the petty sessions area or London commission area in which the magistrates' court is situated for an order under paragraph (2).
(2) Upon hearing an application under paragraph (l) the court may transfer the proceedings to itself where, having regard to the principle set out in section 1(2) and the questions set out in article 7(1)(a) to (c), it considers it in the interests of the child to do so.
(3) Upon hearing an application under paragraph (l) the court may transfer the proceedings to the High Court where, having regard to the principle set out in section 1(2), it considers-“
(a)that the proceedings are appropriate for determination in the High Court, and
(b)that such determination would be in the interests of the child.
Transfer from one county court to another
10. Subject to articles 15 to 17, a county court (the "transferring court") shall transfer proceedings under the Act or under the Adoption Act 1976 to another county court (the "receiving court") where-“
(a)the transferring court, having regard to the principle set out in section 1(2), considers the transfer to be in the interests of the child, and
(b)the receiving court is-“
(i)of the same class or classes, within the meaning of article 2, as the transferring court, or
(ii)to be presided over by a judge or district judge who is specified by directions under section 9 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990(7) for the same purposes as the judge or district judge presiding over the transferring court.
Transfer from county court to magistrates' court by county court
11. A county court may transfer to a magistrates" court before trial proceedings which were transferred under article 7(1) where the county court, having regard to the principle set out in section 1(2) and the interests of the child, considers that the criterion cited by the magistrates' court as the reason for transfer-“
(a)in the case of the criterion in article 7(1)(a), does not apply,
(b)in the case of the criterion in article 7(1)(b), no longer applies, because the proceedings with which the transferred proceedings were to be heard have been determined,
(c)in the case of the criterion in article 7(1)(c), no longer applies.
Transfer from county court to High Court by county court
12. A county court may transfer proceedings under the Act or the Adoption Act 1976 to the High Court where, having regard to the principle set out in section 1(2), it considers-“
(a)that the proceedings are appropriate for determination in the High Court, and
(b)that such determination would be in the interests of the child.
Transfer from High Court to county court
13. Subject to articles 15, 16 and 18, the High Court may transfer to a county court proceedings under the Act or the Adoption Act 1976 where, having regard to the principle set out in section 1(2), it considers that the proceedings are appropriate for determination in such a court and that such determination would be in the interests of the child.
ALLOCATION OF PROCEEDINGS TO PARTICULAR COUNTY COURTS
Commencement
14. Subject to articles 18, 19 and 20 and to rule 2.40 of the Family Proceedings Rules 1991(8) (Application under Part I or II of the Children Act 1989 where matrimonial cause is pending), an application under the Act or under the Adoption Act 1976 which is to be commenced in a county court shall be commenced in a divorce county court.
Proceedings under Part I or II or Schedule 1
15.-(2) Subject to paragraph (3), where an application under Part I or II or Schedule 1 is to be transferred from a magistrates" court to a county court, it shall be transferred to a divorce county court.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), where an application under Part I or II or Schedule 1, other than an application for an order under section 8, is to be transferred from the High Court to a county court, it shall be transferred to a divorce county court.
(3) Where an application under Part I or II or Schedule 1, other than an application for an order under section 8, is to be transferred to a county court for the purpose of consolidation with other proceedings, it shall be transferred to the court in which those other proceedings are pending.
Orders under section 8 of the Children Act 1989
16.-(1) An application for an order under section 8 in a divorce county court, which is not also a family hearing centre, shall, if the court is notified that the application will be opposed, be transferred for trial to a family hearing centre.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), where an application for an order under section 8 is to be transferred from the High Court to a county court it shall be transferred to a family hearing centre.
(3) Where an application for an order under section 8 is to be transferred to a county court for the purpose of consolidation with other proceedings, it may be transferred to the court in which those other proceedings are pending whether or not it is a family hearing centre; but paragraph (l) shall apply to the application following the transfer.
Application for adoption or freeing for adoption
17.-(1) Subject to article 22, proceedings in a divorce county court, which is not also a family hearing centre, under section 12 or 18 of the Adoption Act 1976(9) shall, if the court is notified that the proceedings will be opposed, be transferred for trial to a family hearing centre.
(2) Where proceedings under the Adoption Act 1976 are to be transferred from a magistrates' court to a county court, they shall be transferred to a divorce county court.
Applications under Part III, IV or V
18.-(1) An application under Part III, IV or V, if it is to be commenced in a county court, shall be commenced in a care centre.
(2) An application under Part III, IV or V which is to be transferred from the High Court to a county court shall be transferred to a care centre.
(3) An application under Part III, IV or V which is to be transferred from a magistrates" court to a county court shall be transferred to the care centre listed against the entry in column (i) of Schedule 2 to this Order for the petty sessions area or London commission area in which the relevant magistrates' court is situated.
Principal Registry of the Family Division
19. The principal registry of the Family Division of the High Court shall be treated, for the purposes of this Order, as if it were a divorce county court, a family hearing centre and a care centre listed against every entry in column (i) of Schedule 2 to this Order (in addition to the entries against which it is actually listed).
Lambeth and Woolwich County Courts
20. Notwithstanding articles 14, 16 and 17, an application for an order under section 8 or under the Adoption Act 1976 may be commenced and tried in Lambeth County Court or in Woolwich County Court.
MISCELLANEOUS
Contravention of provision of this Order
21. Where proceedings are commenced or transferred in contravention of a provision of this Order, the contravention shall not have the effect of making the proceedings invalid; and no appeal shall lie against the determination of proceedings on the basis of such contravention alone.
Transitional provision -“ proceedings under Adoption Act 1976
22. Proceedings under the Adoption Act 1976 which are commenced in a county court prior to the coming into force of this Order may, notwithstanding article 17(1), remain in that court for trial.
Mackay of Clashfern, C.
20th June 1991
Article-2
SCHEDULE 1FAMILY HEARING CENTRES
Midland and Oxford Circuit
Birmingham County Court
Coventry County Court
Derby County Court
Leicester County Court
Lincoln County Court
Mansfield County Court
Northampton County Court
Nottingham County Court
Oxford County Court
Peterborough County Court
Stafford County Court
Stoke-on-Trent County Court
Telford County Court
Walsall County Court
Wolverhampton County Court
Worcester County Court
Northern Circuit
Blackburn County Court
Bolton County Court
Carlisle County Court
Lancaster County Court
Liverpool County Court
Manchester County Court
Stockport County Court
North Eastern Circuit
Barnsley County Court
Bradford County Court
Darlington County Court
Dewsbury County Court
Doncaster County Court
Durham County Court
Halifax County Court
Harrogate County Court
Huddersfield County Court
Keighley County Court
Kingston-upon-Tyne County Court
Leeds County Court
Newcastle-upon-Tyne County Court
Pontefract County Court
Rotherham County Court
Scarborough County Court
Sheffield County Court
Skipton County Court
Sunderland County Court
Teesside County Court
Wakefield County Court
York County Court
South Eastern Circuit
Brighton County Court
Bow County Court
Brentford County Court
Bromley County Court
Cambridge County Court
Canterbury County Court
Chelmsford County Court
Chichester County Court
Colchester and Clacton County Court
Croydon County Court
Edmonton County Court
Guildford County Court
Hitchin County Court
Ilford County Court
Ipswich County Court
Kingston-upon-Thames County Court
Luton County Court
Maidstone County Court
Medway County Court
Milton Keynes County Court
Norwich County Court
Reading County Court
Romford County Court
Slough County Court
Southend County Court
Wandsworth County Court
Watford County Court
Willesden County Court
Wales and Chester Circuit
Aberystwyth County Court
Caernarfon County Court
Cardiff County Court
Carmarthen County Court
Chester County Court
Crewe County Court
Haverfordwest County Court
Llangefni County Court
Macclesfield County Court
Merthyr Tydfil County Court
Newport (Gwent) County Court
Rhyl County Court
Swansea County Court
Warrington County Court
Welshpool and Newtown County Court
Wrexham County Court
Western Circuit
Basingstoke County Court
Bournemouth County Court
Bristol County Court
Exeter County Court
Gloucester County Court
Plymouth County Court
Portsmouth County Court
Southampton County Court
Swindon County Court
Taunton County Court
Truro County Court
Article 2
SCHEDULE 2CARE CENTRES
| (i) | (ii) |
|---|---|
| Petty Sessions Areas | Care Centres |
| Midland and Oxford Circuit | |
| Abingdon | Oxford County Court |
| Aldridge and Brownhills | Wolverhampton County Court |
| Alfreton and Belper | Derby County Court |
| Ashby-De-La-Zouch | Leicester County Court |
| Atherstone and Coleshill | Coventry County Court |
| Barton-on-Humber | Lincoln County Court |
| Bewdley and Stourport | Worcester County Court |
| Bicester | Oxford County Court |
| Birmingham | Birmingham County Court |
| Boston | Lincoln County Court |
| Bourne and Stamford | Lincoln County Court |
| Bridgnorth | Telford County Court |
| Brigg | Lincoln County Court |
| Bromsgrove | Worcester County Court |
| Burton-upon-Trent | Stoke-on-Trent County Court |
| Caistor | Lincoln County Court |
| Cannock | Wolverhampton County Court |
| Cambridge | Peterborough County Court |
| Cheadle | Stoke-on-Trent County Court |
| Chesterfield | Derby County Court |
| City of Hereford | Worcester County Court |
| Congleton | Stoke-on-Trent County Court |
| Corby | Northampton County Court |
| Coventry | Coventry County Court |
| Crewe and Nantwich | Stoke-on-Trent County Court |
| Daventry | Northampton County Court |
| Derby and South Derbyshire | Derby County Court |
| Didcot and Wantage | Oxford County Court |
| Drayton | Telford County Court |
| Dudley | Wolverhampton County Court |
| East Retford | Nottingham County Court |
| East Oxfordshire | Oxford County Court |
| Eccleshall | Stoke-on-Trent County Court |
| Elloes | Lincoln County Court |
| Ely | Peterborough County Court |
| Epworth and Goole | Lincoln County Court |
| Gainsborough | Lincoln County Court |
| Glossop | Derby County Court |
| Grantham | Lincoln County Court |
| Grimsby and Cleethorpes | Lincoln County Court |
| Halesowen | Wolverhampton County Court |
| Henley | Oxford County Court |
| High Peak | Derby County Court |
| Huntingdon | Peterborough County Court |
| Ilkeston | Derby County Court |
| Kettering | Northampton County Court |
| Kidderminster | Worcester County Court |
| Leek | Stoke-on-Trent County Court |
| Leicester (City) | Leicester County Court |
| Leicester (County) | Leicester County Court |
| Lichfield | Stoke-on-Trent County Court |
| Lincoln District | Lincoln County Court |
| Loughborough | Leicester County Court |
| Louth | Lincoln County Court |
| Ludlow | Telford County Court |
| Lutterworth | Leicester County Court |
| Malvern Hills | Worcester County Court |
| Mansfield | Nottingham County Court |
| Market Bosworth | Leicester County Court |
| Market Harborough | Leicester County Court |
| Market Rasen | Lincoln County Court |
| Melton and Belvoir | Leicester County Court |
| Mid-Warwickshire | Coventry County Court |
| Mid-Worcestershire | Worcester County Court |
| Newark and Southwell | Nottingham County Court |
| Newcastle-under-Lyme | Stoke-on-Trent County Court |
| Newmarket | Peterborough County Court or Ipswich County Court |
| Northampton | Northampton County Court |
| North Herefordshire | Worcester County Court |
| North Oxfordshire and Chipping Norton | Oxford County Court |
| North Witchford | Peterborough County Court |
| Nottingham | Nottingham County Court |
| Nuneaton | Coventry County Court |
| Oswestry | Telford County Court |
| Oxford | Oxford County Court |
| Peterborough | Peterborough County Court |
| Pirehill North | Stoke-on-Trent County Court |
| Redditch | Worcester County Court |
| Rugby | Coventry County Court |
| Rugeley | Wolverhampton County Court |
| Rutland | Leicester County Court |
| Scunthorpe | Lincoln County Court |
| Seisdon | Wolverhampton County Court |
| Sleaford | Lincoln County Court |
| Shrewsbury | Telford County Court |
| Solihull | Birmingham County Court |
| South Herefordshire | Worcester County Court |
| South Warwickshire | Coventry County Court |
| Spilsby and Skegness | Lincoln County Court |
| Stoke-on-Trent | Stoke-on-Trent County Court |
| Stone | Stoke-on-Trent County Court |
| Stourbridge | Wolverhampton County Court |
| Sutton Coldfield | Birmingham County Court |
| Tamworth | Stoke-on-Trent County Court |
| Telford | Telford County Court |
| Toseland | Peterborough County Court |
| Towcester | Northampton County Court |
| Uttoxeter | Stoke-on-Trent County Court |
| Vale of Evesham | Worcester County Court |
| Warley | Wolverhampton County Court |
| Walsall | Wolverhampton County Court |
| Wellingborough | Northampton County Court |
| West Bromwich | Wolverhampton County Court |
| West Derbyshire | Derby County Court |
| Wisbech | Peterborough County Court |
| Witney | Oxford County Court |
| Wolds | Lincoln County Court |
| Wolverhampton | Wolverhampton County Court |
| Woodstock | Oxford County Court |
| Worcester City | Worcester County Court |
| Worksop | Nottingham County Court |
| Northern Circuit | |
| Appleby | Carlisle County Court |
| Ashton-under-Lyne | Manchester County Court |
| Barrow with Bootle | Lancaster County Court |
| Blackburn | Blackburn County Court |
| Blackpool | Lancaster County Court |
| Bolton | Manchester County Court |
| Burnley | Blackburn County Court |
| Bury | Manchester County Court |
| Carlisle | Carlisle County Court |
| Chorley | Blackburn County Court |
| Darwen | Blackburn County Court |
| Eccles | Manchester County Court |
| Fylde | Lancaster County Court |
| Hyndburn | Blackburn County Court |
| Kendal and Lonsdale | Lancaster County Court |
| Keswick | Carlisle County Court |
| Knowsley | Liverpool County Court |
| Lancaster | Lancaster County Court |
| Leigh | Manchester County Court |
| Liverpool | Liverpool County Court |
| Manchester | Manchester County Court |
| Middleton and Heywood | Manchester County Court |
| North Lonsdale | Lancaster County Court |
| North Sefton | Liverpool County Court |
| Oldham | Manchester County Court |
| Ormskirk | Liverpool County Court |
| Pendle | Blackburn County Court |
| Penrith and Alston | Carlisle County Court |
| Preston | Blackburn County Court |
| Ribble Valley | Blackburn County Court |
| Rochdale | Manchester County Court |
| Rossendale | Blackburn County Court |
| St Helens | Liverpool County Court |
| Salford | Manchester County Court |
| South Lakes | Lancaster County Court |
| South Ribble | B1ackburn County Court |
| South Sefton | Liverpool County Court |
| South Tameside | Manchester County Court |
| Stockport | Manchester County Court |
| Trafford | Manchester County Court |
| West Allerdale | Carlisle County Court |
| Whitehaven | Carlisle County Court |
| Wigan | Liverpool County Court |
| Wigton | Carlisle County Court |
| Wirral | Liverpool County Court |
| Wyre | Lancaster County Court |
| North Eastern Circuit | |
| Bainton Beacon | Kingston-upon-Hull County Court |
| Barnsley | Sheffield County Court |
| Batley and Dewsbury | Leeds County Court |
| Berwick-upon-Tweed | Newcastle-upon-Tyne County Court |
| Beverley | Kingston-upon-Hull County Court |
| Blyth Valley | Newcastle-upon-Tyne County Court |
| Bradford | Leeds County Court |
| Brighouse | Leeds County Court |
| Calder | Leeds County Court |
| Chester-le-Street | Newcastle-upon-Tyne County Court |
| Claro | York County Court |
| Coquetdale | Newcastle-upon-Tyne County Court |
| Darlington | Teesside County Court |
| Derwentside | Newcastle-upon-Tyne County Court |
| Dickering | Kingston-upon-Hull County Court |
| Doncaster | Sheffield County Court |
| Durham | Newcastle-upon-Tyne County Court |
| Easington | Sunderland County Court |
| Easingwold | York County Court |
| Gateshead | Newcastle-upon-Tyne County Court |
| Hartlepool | Teesside County Court |
| Holme Beacon | Kingston-upon-Hull County Court |
| Houghton-le-Spring | Sunderland County Court |
| Howdenshire | Kingston-upon-Hull County Court |
| Huddersfield | Leeds County Court |
| Keighley | Leeds County Court |
| Kingston-upon-Hull | Kingston-upon-Hull County Court |
| Langbaurgh East | Teesside County Court |
| Leeds | Leeds County Court |
| Middle Holderness | Kingston-upon-Hull County Court |
| Morley | Leeds County Court |
| Morpeth Ward | Newcastle-upon-Tyne County Court |
| Newcastle-upon-Tyne | Newcastle-upon-Tyne County Court |
| Northallerton | Teesside County Court |
| North Holderness | Kingston-upon-Hull County Court |
| North Tyneside | Newcastle-upon-Tyne County Court |
| Pontefract | Leeds County Court |
| Pudsey and Otley | Leeds County Court |
| Richmond | Teesside County Court |
| Ripon Liberty | York County Court |
| Rotherham | Sheffield County Court |
| Ryedale | York County Court |
| Scarborough | York County Court |
| Sedgefield | Newcastle-upon-Tyne County Court |
| Selby | York County Court |
| Sheffield | Sheffield County Court |
| Skyrack and Wetherby | Leeds County Court |
| South Holderness | Kingston-upon-Hull County Court |
| South Hunsley Beacon | Kingston-upon-Hull County Court |
| South Tyneside | Sunderland County Court |
| Staincliffe | Leeds County Court |
| Sunderland | Sunderland County Court |
| Teesdale and Wear Valley | Newcastle-upon-Tyne County Court |
| Teesside | Teesside County Court |
| Todmorden | Leeds County Court |
| Tynedale | Newcastle-upon-Tyne Court |
| Wakefield | Leeds County Court |
| Wansbeck | Newcastle-upon-Tyne County Court |
| Whitby Strand | Teesside County Court |
| Wilton Beacon | Kingston-upon-Hull County Court |
| York | York County Court |
| South Eastern Circuit | |
| Ampthill | Luton County Court |
| Arundel | Brighton County Court |
| Ashford and Tenterden | Medway County Court |
| Aylesbury | Milton Keynes County Court |
| Barnet | Principal Registry of the Family Division |
| Barking and Dagenham | Principal Registry of the Family Division |
| Basildon | Chelmsford County Court |
| Battle and Rye | Brighton County Court |
| Beccles | Ipswich County Court |
| Bedford | Luton County Court |
| Bexhill | Brighton County Court |
| Bexley | Principal Registry of the Family Division |
| Biggleswade | Luton County Court |
| Bishop's Stortford | Watford County Court |
| Brent | Principal Registry of the Family Division |
| Brentwood | Chelmsford County Court |
| Brighton | Brighton County Court |
| Bromley | Principal Registry of the Family Division |
| Buckingham | Milton Keynes County Court |
| Burnham | Milton Keynes County Court |
| Cambridge | Peterborough County Court |
| Canterbury and St Augustine | Medway County Court |
| Chelmsford | Chelmsford County Court |
| Chertsey | Guildford County Court |
| Cheshunt | Watford County Court |
| Chichester and District | Brighton County Court |
| Chiltern | Milton Keynes County Court |
| Colchester | Chelmsford County Court |
| Crawley | Brighton County Court |
| Cromer | Norwich County Court |
| Crowborough | Brighton County Court |
| Croydon | Principal Registry of the Family Division |
| Dacorum | Watford County Court |
| Dartford | Medway County Court |
| Diss | Norwich County Court |
| Dorking | Guildford County Court |
| Dover and East Kent | Medway County Court |
| Downham Market | Norwich County Court |
| Dunmow | Chelmsford County Court |
| Dunstable | Luton County Court |
| Ealing | Principal Registry of the Family Division |
| Eastbourne | Brighton County Court |
| East Dereham | Norwich County Court |
| Ely | Peterborough County Court |
| Enfield | Principal Registry of the Family Division |
| Epping and Ongar | Chelmsford County Court |
| Epsom | Guildford County Court |
| Esher and Walton | Guildford County Court |
| Fakenham | Norwich County Court |
| Farnham | Guildford County Court |
| Faversham and Sittingbourne | Medway County Court |
| Felixstowe | Ipswich County Court |
| Folkestone and Hythe | Medway County Court |
| The Forest | Reading County Court |
| Freshwell and South Hinckford | Chelmsford County Court |
| Godstone | Guildford County Court |
| Guildford | Guildford County Court |
| Gravesham | Medway County Court |
| Great Yarmouth | Norwich County Court |
| Hailsham | Brighton County Court |
| Halstead and Hedingham | Chelmsford County Court |
| Harlow | Chelmsford County Court |
| Harrow Gore | Principal Registry of the Family Division |
| Haringey | Principal Registry of the Family Division |
| Harwich | Chelmsford County Court |
| Hastings | Brighton County Court |
| Havering | Principal Registry of the Family Division |
| Hertford and Ware | Watford County Court |
| Hillingdon | Principal Registry of the Family Division |
| Horsham | Brighton County Court |
| Hounslow | Principal Registry of the Family Division |
| Hove | Brighton County Court |
| Hunstanton | Norwich County Court |
| Huntingdon | Peterborough County Court |
| Ipswich | Ipswich County Court. |
| King's Lynn | Norwich County Court |
| Kingston-upon-Thames | Principal Registry of the Family Division |
| Leighton Buzzard | Luton County Court |
| Lewes | Brighton County Court |
| Lowestoft | Ipswich County Court |
| Luton | Luton County Court |
| Maidenhead | Reading County Court |
| Maidstone | Medway County Court |
| Maldon and Witham | Chelmsford County Court |
| Margate | Medway County Court |
| Medway | Medway County Court |
| Merton | Principal Registry of the Family Division |
| Mid-Hertfordshire | Watford County Court |
| Mid-Sussex | Brighton County Court |
| Mildenhall | Ipswich County Court |
| Milton Keynes | Milton Keynes County Court |
| Newham | Principal Registry of the Family Division |
| Newmarket | Ipswich County Court or Peterborough County Court |
| North Hertfordshire | Watford County Court |
| North Walsham | Norwich County Court |
| North Witchford | Peterborough County Court |
| Norwich | Norwich County Court |
| Peterborough | Peterborough County Court |
| Ramsgate | Medway County Court |
| Reading and Sonning | Reading County Court |
| Redbridge | Principal Registry of the Family Division |
| Reigate | Guildford County Court |
| Richmond-upon-Thames | Principal Registry of the Family Division |
| Risbridge | Ipswich County Court |
| Rochford and Southend-on-Sea | Chelmsford County Court |
| Saffron Walden | Chelmsford County Court |
| St Albans | Watford County Court |
| St Edmundsbury | Ipswich County Court |
| Saxmundham | Ipswich County Court |
| Sevenoaks | Medway County Court |
| Slough | Reading County Court |
| South Mimms | Watford County Court |
| Staines and Sunbury | Guildford County Court |
| Stevenage | Watford County Court |
| Steyning | Brighton County Court |
| Stow | Ipswich County Court |
| Sudbury and Cosford | Ipswich County Court |
| Sutton | Principal Registry of the Family Division |
| Swaffham | Norwich County Court |
| Tendring | Chelmsford County Court |
| Thetford | Norwich County Court |
| Thurrock | Chelmsford County Court |
| Tonbridge and Malling | Medway County Court |
| Toseland | Peterborough County Court |
| Tunbridge Wells and Cranbrook | Medway County Court |
| Waltham Forest | Principal Registry of the Family Division |
| Watford | Watford County Court |
| West Berkshire | Reading County Court |
| Windsor | Reading County Court |
| Wisbech | Peterborough County Court |
| Woking | Guildford County Court |
| Woodbridge | Ipswich County Court |
| Worthing | Brighton County Court |
| Wycombe | Milton Keynes County Court |
| Wymondham | Norwich County Court |
| Wales and Chester Circuit | |
| Ardudwy-is-Artro | Caernarfon/Llangefni County Court |
| Ardudwy-uwch-Artro | Caernarfon/Llangefni County Court |
| Bangor | Caernarfon/Llangefni County Court |
| Bedwellty | Newport (Gwent) County Court |
| Berwyn | Rhyl County Court |
| Brecon | Merthyr Tydfil County Court |
| Caernarfon and Gwyrfai | Caernarfon/Llangefni County Court |
| Cardiff | Cardiff County Court |
| Carmarthen North | Swansea County Court |
| Carmarthen South | Swansea County Court |
| Ceredigion Ganol | Swansea County Court |
| Chester | Chester County Court |
| Cleddau | Swansea County Court |
| Colwyn | Rhyl County Court |
| Congleton | Stoke-on-Trent County Court |
| Conwy and Llandudno | Caernarfon/Llangefni County Court |
| Crewe and Nantwich | Stoke-on-Trent County Court |
| Cynon Valley | Merthyr Tydfil County Court |
| De Ceredigion | Swansea County Court |
| Dinefwr | Swansea County Court |
| Dyffryn Clwyd | Rhyl County Court |
| East Gwent | Newport (Gwent) County Court |
| Eifionydd | Caernarfon/Llangefni County Court |
| Ellesmere Port and Neston | Chester County Court |
| Estimaner | Caernarfon/Llangefni County Court |
| Flint | Rhyl County Court |
| Gogledd Ceredigion | Swansea County Court |
| Gogledd Preseli | Swansea County Court |
| Halton | Warrington County Court |
| Hawarden | Rhyl County Court |
| Llandrindod Wells | Merthyr Tydfil County Court |
| Llanelli | Swansea County Court |
| Lliw Valley | Swansea County Court |
| Lower Rhymney Valley | Cardiff County Court |
| Macclesfield | Warrington County Court |
| Machynlleth | Merthyr Tydfil County Court |
| Merthyr Tydfil | Merthyr Tydfil County Court |
| Miskin | Merthyr Tydfil County Court |
| Mold | Rhyl County Court |
| Nant Conwy | Caernarfon/Llangefni County Court |
| Neath | Swansea County Court |
| Newcastle and Ogmore | Cardiff County Court |
| Newport | Newport (Gwent) County Court |
| Newton | Merthyr Tydfil County Court |
| North Anglesey | Caernarfon/Llangefni County Court |
| Penllyn | Caernarfon/Llangefni County Court |
| Port Talbot | Swansea County Court |
| Pwllheli | Caernarfon/Llangefni County Court |
| Rhuddlan | Rhyl County Court |
| South Anglesey | Caernarfon/Llangefni County Court |
| South Pembrokeshire | Swansea County Court |
| Swansea | Swansea County Court |
| Talybont | Caernarfon/Llangefni County Court |
| Upper Rhymney Valley | Merthyr Tydfil County Court |
| Vale of Glamorgan | Cardiff County Court |
| Vale Royal | Chester County Court |
| Warrington | Warrington County Court |
| Welshpool | Merthyr Tydfil County Court |
| Wrexham Maelor | Rhyl County Court |
| Ystradgynlais | Swansea County Court |
| Western Circuit | |
| Alton | Portsmouth County Court |
| Andover | Portsmouth County Court |
| Axminster | Taunton County Court |
| Barnstaple | Taunton County Court |
| Basingstoke | Portsmouth County Court |
| Bath and Wansdyke | Bristol County Court |
| Bideford and Great Torrington | Taunton County Court |
| Blandford and Sturminster | Bournemouth County Court |
| Bodmin | Truro County Court |
| Bournemouth | Bournemouth County Court |
| Bristol | Bristol County Court |
| Bridport | Bournemouth County Court |
| Cheltenham | Bristol County Court |
| Christchurch | Bournemouth County Court |
| Cirencester, Fairford and Tetbury | Bristol County Court |
| Cullompton | Taunton County Court |
| Dorchester | Bournemouth County Court |
| Droxford | Portsmouth County Court |
| Dunheved and Stratton | Truro County Court |
| Eastleigh | Portsmouth County Court |
| East Penwith | Truro County Court |
| East Powder | Truro County Court |
| Exeter | Plymouth County Court |
| Exmouth | Plymouth County Court |
| Falmouth and Kerrier | Truro County Court |
| Fareham | Portsmouth County Court |
| Forest of Dean | Bristol County Court |
| Gloucester | Bristol County Court |
| Gosport | Portsmouth County Court |
| Havant | Portsmouth County Court |
| Honiton | Taunton County Court |
| Hythe | Bournemouth County Court |
| Isle of Wight | Portsmouth County Court |
| Isles of Scilly | Truro County Court |
| Kennet | Bristol County Court |
| Kingsbridge | Plymouth County Court |
| Long Ashton | Bristol County Court |
| Lymington | Bournemouth County Court |
| Mendip | Taunton County Court |
| North Avon | Bristol County Court |
| North Cotswold | Bristol County Court |
| North Wiltshire | Bristol County Court |
| Odiham | Portsmouth County Court |
| Okehampton | Plymouth County Court |
| Penwith | Truro County Court |
| Petersfield | Portsmouth County Court |
| Plymouth | Plymouth County Court |
| Plympton | Plymouth County Court |
| Portsmouth | Portsmouth County Court |
| Poole | Bournemouth County Court |
| Pydar | Truro County Court |
| Ringwood | Bournemouth County Court |
| Romsey | Bournemouth County Court |
| Salisbury | Boumemouth County Court |
| Sedgemoor | Taunton County Court |
| Shaftesbury | Bournemouth County Court |
| Sherborne | Bournemouth County Court |
| Southampton | Portsmouth County Court |
| South East Cornwall | Plymouth County Court |
| South Gloucestershire | Bristol County Court |
| South Molton | Taunton County Court |
| South Somerset | Taunton County Court |
| Swindon | Bristol County Court |
| Taunton Deane | Taunton County Court |
| Tavistock | Plymouth County Court |
| Teignbridge | Plymouth County Court |
| Tewkesbury | Bristol County Court |
| Tiverton | Taunton County Court |
| Torbay | Plymouth County Court |
| Totnes | Plymouth County Court |
| Totton and New Forest | Bournemouth County Court |
| Truro and South Powder | Truro County Court |
| Wareham and Swanage | Bournemouth County Court |
| West Somerset | Taunton County Court |
| Weston-Super-Mare | Bristol County Court |
| West Wiltshire | Bristol County Court |
| Weymouth and Portland | Bournemouth County Court |
| Wimborne | Bournemouth County Court |
| Winchester | Portsmouth County Court |
| Wonford | Plymouth County Court |
| (i) | (ii) |
|---|---|
| London Commission Area | Care Centre |
| Inner London Area and City of London | Principal Registry of the Family Division |
Explanatory Note
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order provides for the allocation of certain proceedings concerning children between the High Court, the county courts and the magistrates' courts.
Article 3 prescribes certain proceedings which must be commenced in a magistrates' court.
Article 4 prescribes the court in which are to be brought applications to vary, extend or discharge orders.
Articles 5 to 13 regulate transfer between different courts and categories of court.
Articles 14 to 20, and Schedules 1 and 2, deal with the distribution of business amongst the county courts, and provide for the Principal Registry of the Family Division to be treated as a county court.
Section 4 was amended by the Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51), section 12.
1976 c. 36; a new section 21 was substituted by paragraph 9 of Schedule 10 to the Children Act 1989 (c. 41).
S.I. 1991/1395.
S.I. 1991/1247.