Citation and commencement

1.  This Order may be cited as the Court of Judicature Fees (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 and shall come into operation on 3rd January 2017.

Amendments to the Court of Judicature Fees Order (Northern Ireland) 1996

2.—(1) The Court of Judicature Fees Order (Northern Ireland) 1996(4) is amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (6).

(2) After Article 2(b) insert—

“(c)“value of the fund” means the market value of the investments and cash holdings as certified by the Court Funds Office;

(d)“original value” means the sum that was lodged in court; and

(e)in Articles 4(1A) and 11(1)(ii) and (2) “payments out” do not include fees taken by the Accountant General under this Order.”.

(3) After Article 4(1) insert—

“(1A) Fee no. 60 shall not be taken from a fund in court held for the benefit of a minor if it would reduce the value of the fund below its original value less payments out.”.

(4) In Article 7—

(a)in paragraph (1) for “paragraph (4)” substitute “paragraphs (4) and (5)”; and

(b)after paragraph (4) insert—

“(5) If the High Court or the county court so orders, fees no. 58 to no. 60 (being fees payable in the Court Funds Office) shall be taken by the Accountant General out of funds in court which are held for the benefit of a minor or patient.”.

(5) After Article 10 insert—

“11.—(1) Paragraph (2) applies where—

(i)a minor becomes entitled to payment out in full of a fund in court; and

(ii)the value of the fund is less than its original value less payments out.

(2) Any fees taken under this Order shall be refunded up to an amount which brings the value of the fund up to the original value less payments out.”.

(6) In the Schedule—

(a)in the list of sections, after “Section 6 Fees payable in the Office of Care and Protection” insert “Section 7 Fees payable in the Court Funds Office”; and

(b)after section 6 insert the new section set out in the Schedule to this Order.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Justice on 12th December 2016

Claire Sugden

Minister of Justice

The Department of Finance concurs in the making of this Order.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance on 12th December 2016

Emer Morelli

A senior officer of the

Department of Finance

Article 2(6)(b)

SCHEDULE

SECTION 7Fees payable in the Court Funds Office

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Court of Judicature Fees Order (Northern Ireland) 1996 (S.R. 1996 No. 100) to introduce new opening, annual administration and closing fees which, if the High Court or county court so orders, may be taken by the Accountant General from a fund in court held for the benefit of a minor or patient.

The Order also makes provision for exemption from the closing fee and refund of fees in relation to a fund held for the benefit of a minor, to ensure that when the fund is to be paid out in full, the value is not less than its original value less payments out as a result of fees taken under the Order.

The Supreme Court Fees Order (Northern Ireland) 1996 has been renamed the Court of Judicature Fees Order (Northern Ireland) 1996 as a consequence of the renaming of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland by virtue of section 59 and paragraph 6 of Schedule 11 to the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4).