2005 No. 42

FAMILY LAW
JUDGMENTS

The European Communities (Matrimonial and Parental Responsibility Jurisdiction and Judgments) (Scotland) Regulations 2005

Made

Laid before the Scottish Parliament

Coming into force

The Scottish Ministers, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 19721 and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, hereby make the following Regulations:

Citation, commencement and extent1

1

These Regulations may be cited as the European Communities (Matrimonial and Parental Responsibility Jurisdiction and Judgments) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 and shall come into force on 1st March 2005.

2

These Regulations extend to Scotland only.

Amendment of the Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 19732

1

The Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 19732 is amended in accordance with the following paragraphs of this regulation.

2

In section 7(5A)3 for “Article 7” substitute “Article 6”.

3

In section 84–

a

in subsection (2)(a)(ii) for “where” substitute “and”; and

b

in each of subsections (3A) and (4) for “Article 7” substitute “Article 6”.

4

In section 105–

a

in subsection (1B)(a) for “Article 2” substitute “Article 3”; and

b

in subsection (1B)(b) for “Article 7” substitute “Article 6”.

5

In section 11–

a

the existing words become subsection (1); and

b

after that subsection insert–

2

Subsection (1) above and Schedule 3 to this Act and any power mentioned in subsection (1)(b) are subject to Article 19 of the Council Regulation.

6

In subsection (5) of section 126–

a

for paragraph (b) substitute–

b

“Contracting State” means Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Spain, Estonia, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom;

b

for paragraph (c) substitute–

c

“the Council Regulation” means Council Regulation (EC) No. 2201/2003 of 27th November 2003 concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and matters of parental responsibility7;

Amendment of the Child Abduction and Custody Act 19853

The Child Abduction and Custody Act 19858 is amended as follows:–

a

in section 1(the Hague Convention) after subsection (2) add–

3

But–

a

those provisions of the Convention;

b

this Part of this Act; and

c

rules of court under section 10 of this Act,

are subject to Article 60 of the Council Regulation (by virtue of which the Regulation takes precedence over the Convention, in so far as it concerns matters governed by the Regulation).

4

“The Council Regulation” means Council Regulation (EC) No. 2201/2003 of 27th November 2003 concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and matters of parental responsibility.

b

in section 12 (the European Convention), for subsection (3) substitute–

3

But–

a

those provisions of the Convention;

b

this Part of this Act; and

c

rules of court under section 24 of this Act,

are subject to Article 60 of the Council Regulation (by virtue of which the Regulation takes precedence over the Convention, in so far as it concerns matters governed by the Regulation).

4

“The Council Regulation” means Council Regulation (EC) No. 2201/2003 of 27th November 2003 concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and matters of parental responsibility.

Amendment of the Family Law Act 19864

1

The Family Law Act 19869 is amended in accordance with the following paragraphs of this regulation.

2

In section 14–

a

the word “or” immediately following paragraph (a) of subsection (2) is repealed;

b

after paragraph (b) of that subsection insert–

or

c

that it should exercise its powers under Article 15 of the Council Regulation (transfer to a court better placed to hear the case),

c

at the end of subsection (2) add–

or (as the case may be) exercise its powers under Article 15 of the Council Regulation

3

After section 17 add–

17A

The provisions of this Chapter are subject to Sections 2 and 3 of Chapter II of the Council Regulation.

4

In section 26(2)10 for “Articles 14 to 20” substitute “Articles 21 to 27, 41(1) and 42(1)”.

5

In section 42(1)11 for the definition of “the Council Regulation” substitute–

  • “the Council Regulation” means Council Regulation (EC) No. 2201/2003 of 27th November 2003 concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and matters of parental responsibility;

6

In Section 45(2)12 for “Articles 14 to 20” substitute “Articles 21 to 27, 41(1) and 42(1)”.

7

In section 54(1)13 for the definition of the Council Regulation substitute–

  • “the Council Regulation” means Council Regulation (EC) No. 2201/2003 of 27th November 2003 concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and matters of parental responsibility;

Amendment of the Children (Scotland) Act 19955

1

The Children (Scotland) Act 199514 is amended in accordance with the following paragraphs of this regulation.

2

At the end of section 14 add–

5

The provisions of sections 9, 11, 13 and this section are subject to Sections 2 and 3 of Chapter II of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2201/2003 of 27th November 2003 concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and matters of parental responsibility.

3

After section 86 add–

86A

The provisions of this Chapter are subject to Sections 2 and 3 of Chapter II of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2201/2003 of 27th November 2003 concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and matters of parental responsibility.

Transitional6

Proceedings started under Council Regulation (EC) No. 1347/2000 of 29th May 2000 on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and in matters of parental responsibility for children of both spouses15 may continue under that Regulation until decree as if these Regulations had not been made.

Application7

The amendments to–

a

the Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1973 made by regulation 2;

b

the Family Law Act 1986 made by regulation 4; and

c

the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 made by regulation 5,

shall apply only in respect of proceedings commenced on or after 1st March 2005.

Revocation and repeal

8

The European Communities (Matrimonial Jurisdiction and Judgments) (Scotland) Regulations 200116 are hereby revoked.

9

Section 11(1A)17 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 is hereby repealed.

CATHY JAMIESONA member of the Scottish ExecutiveSt Andrew’s House, Edinburgh

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations made under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972, amend statutory provisions operable in Scotland to make them consistent with, and to clarify their relationship to, Council Regulation (EC) No. 2201/2003 of 27th November 2003 (“the new Council Regulation”) on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and matters of parental responsibility.

The Council Regulation reproduces and repeals Council Regulation (EC) No. 1347/2000 of 29th May 2000 (“the previous Council Regulation”) extending it to include matters of parental responsibility where there are no matrimonial proceedings. Therefore, many of the alterations in these regulations are made to update the statutory provisions operable in Scotland to make reference to the correct Council Regulation and the correct Article therein.

The amendments to the Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1973 (Regulation 2) change references to the previous Council Regulation to the equivalent in the new Council Regulation, and update the list of contracting states to the new Council Regulation. Section 11 of the Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1973 is amended to take into account Article 19 of the new Council Regulation in respect of the sisting of actions.

The amendments to the Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985 (Regulation 3), make it clear that the provisions of the new Council Regulation, where applicable, will take precedence over the relevant provisions of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction signed at the Hague on 25th October 1980, and of the European Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions concerning Custody of Children and on the Restoration of Custody of Children which was signed at Luxembourg on 20th May 1980. The amendments also substitute the relevant references to the new Council Regulation.

The amendments to the Family Law Act 1986 (Regulation 4) make clear that the court can sist an action, or a part thereof, when transferring jurisdiction under Article 15 of the new Council Regulation. The amendments make clear that the provisions of the new Council Regulation must be considered before domestic jurisdiction. The amendments also substitute the relevant references to the new Council Regulation.

The amendments to the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 make clear that certain provisions operate subject to the rules of jurisdiction in the new Council Regulation.

The European Communities (Matrimonial Jurisdiction and Judgments) (Scotland) Regulations 2001 (S.S.I. 2001/36) which made amendments to primary legislation in connection with the previous Council Regulation are revoked (regulation 8).

Section 11(1A) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (which was inserted by the European Communities (Matrimonial Jurisdiction and Judgments) (Scotland) Regulations 2001) is repealed (regulation 9).