Search Legislation

Administration of Justice Act 1970

Changes to legislation:

Administration of Justice Act 1970 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 28 March 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the affected provisions when you open the content using the Table of Contents below.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to :

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

  • Act applied (with modifications) by S.I. 2018/1125 reg. 8 (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S.I. 2018/1125, reg. 8 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of Private International Law (Implementation of Agreements) Act 2020 (c. 24), s. 4(3), Sch. 5 para. 4(4))
  1. Introductory Text

  2. Part I Courts and Judges

    1. High Court

      1. 1. Redistribution of business among divisions of the High Court.

      2. 2. Admiralty Court.

      3. 3. Commercial Court.

      4. 4. Power of judges of Commercial Court to take arbitrations.

      5. 5.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      6. 6.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      7. 7—8.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    2. Court of Appeal

      1. 9.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    3. Patents and Registered Designs Appeal Tribunals

      1. 10. Temporary additional judges.

  3. Part II Enforcement of Debt

    1. Provisions restricting sanction of imprisonment

      1. 11. Restriction on power of committal under Debtors Act 1869 (c. 62).

      2. 12. Restriction on magistrates’ power of committal for civil debt.

      3. 13—26.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    2. Enforcement by attachment of earnings

      1. 27.(1) . . . . . . . . ....

      2. 28. Other provisions for interpretation of Part II.

    3. Supplementary

      1. 29.(1) . . . . . . . . ....

      2. 30.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  4. Part III Discovery and Related Procedures

    1. 31. Power of court to order disclosure, etc. of documents before commencement of proceedings.

    2. 32. Extension of existing powers of court to order disclosure of documents,inspection of property, etc.

    3. 33.(1) The power to make rules of court under section...

    4. 34. Application of ss.31 to 33 to county courts and High Court in Northern Ireland.

    5. 35. Application to Crown.

  5. Part IV Actions by Mortgagees for Possession

    1. 36. Additional powers of court in action by mortgagee for possession of dwelling-house.

    2. 37, 38. Exclusive jurisdiction of county court in certain mortgage actions.

    3. 38A.This Part of this Act shall not apply to a...

    4. 39. Interpretation of Part IV.

  6. Part V Miscellaneous Provisions

    1. 40. Punishment for unlawful harassment of debtors.

    2. 41. Recovery of costs and compensation awarded by magistrates, assizes, quarter sessions, etc.

    3. 42.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    4. 43.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    5. 44. Interest on judgment debts.

    6. 44A.Interest on judgment debts expressed in currencies other than sterling.

    7. 45. Removal of limit on number of county court judges assignable to a district and of certain registrars appointed jointly.

    8. 46.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    9. 47.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    10. 48. Variation in rate of payments in maintenance order registered in magistrates’ court.

    11. 49.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    12. 50.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    13. 51. Minor amendments of Children and Young Persons Act 1969 (c. 54).

  7. Part VI General

    1. 52. Financial provisions.

    2. 53.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    3. 54. Citation, interpretation, repeals, commencement and extent.

  8. SCHEDULES

    1. SCHEDULE 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    2. SCHEDULE 2

      AMENDMENT OF ENACTMENTS CONSEQUENTIAL ON SECTION 1

      1. 1.. . . . . . . . . ....

      2. The Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement) Act 1920 (c. 33)

        1. 2.In section 1 of the Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement)...

      3. The Administration of Estates Act 1925 (c.23)

        1. 3.In section 23 of the Administration of Estates Act 1925...

        2. 4.In section 47A of the said Act of 1925 (life...

        3. 5.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      4. The Supreme Court of Judicature (Consolidation) Act 1925 (c. 49)

        1. 6.In the following provisions of the Supreme Court of Judicature...

      5. Other amendments in Parts I to V

        1. 7.In section 5 of the said Act of 1925 (power...

        2. 8.In section 56 of the said Act of 1925 (allocations...

        3. 9.For section 107 of the said Act of 1925 (principal...

        4. 10.. . . . . . . . . ....

        5. 11.In Schedule 3 to the said Act of 1925, Part...

      6. Amendments of references in Part VII to principal probate registry and registrar

        1. 12.In the following provisions of the said Act of 1925,...

        2. 13.In section 157 of the said Act of 1925 (copies...

        3. 14.In the following provisions of the said Act of 1925,...

        4. 15.In section 167 of the said Act of 1925 (administration...

        5. 16.. . . . . . . . . ....

        6. 17.. . . . . . . . . ....

      7. The Supreme Court Officers (Pensions) Act 1954 (c. 38)

        1. 18.In section 2 of the Supreme Court Officers (Pensions) Act...

      8. The Public Records Act 1958 (c. 51)

        1. 19.In section 8 of the Public Records Act 1958 (deposit...

      9. The Judicial Pensions Act 1959 (c. 9)

        1. 20.In Schedule 1 to the Judicial Pensions Act 1959 (judicial...

      10. The County Courts Act 1959 (c. 22)

        1. 21.In section 42 of the County Courts Act 1959 (jurisdiction...

        2. 22.At the end of section 54(2) of the said Act...

        3. 23.In section 62(1) of the said Act of 1959 (probate...

      11. The County Courts Act 1959 (c.22)

        1. 24.In section 64 of the said Act of 1959 (effect...

        2. 25.. . . . . . . . . ....

      12. The Matrimonial Causes Act 1967 (c. 56)

        1. 26.In section 4 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1967 (county...

        2. 27.. . . . . . . . . ....

        3. 28.In section 10 of the said Act of 1967 (interpretation),...

    3. SCHEDULE 3

      1. 1.In this Schedule— (a) “the Act” means the Arbitration Act...

      2. 2.In section 1 of the Act (authority of arbitrator to...

      3. 3.The power of the High Court under section 7 of...

      4. 4.Section 8(3) of the Act (power of High Court to...

      5. 5.(1) The powers conferred on the High Court or a...

      6. 6.Section 13(2) and (3) of the Act (extension of time...

      7. 7.(1) Section 18(4) of the Act (provision enabling a party...

      8. 8.(1) Section 19 of the Act (power of the High...

      9. 9.(1) In sections . . . , 22 and 23...

      10. 10.(1) Section 24(2) of the Act (removal of issue of...

      11. 11.Section 25 of the Act (powers of court on removal...

      12. 12.The leave required by section 26 of the Act (enforcement...

    4. SCHEDULE 4

      Taxes, Social Insurance Contributions, etc. subject to Special Enforcement Provisions in Part II

      1. 1.Income tax or any other tax or liability recoverable under...

      2. 2.. . . . . . . . . ....

      3. 3.Contributions equivalent premiums under Part III of the Pension Schemes...

      4. 3A.Class 1, 2 and 4 contributions under Part I of...

      5. 4.. . . . . . . . . ....

    5. SCHEDULES 5–7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    6. SCHEDULE 8

      Maintenance Orders for purposes of 1958 Act and Part II of this Act

      1. 1.An order for alimony, maintenance or other payments made, or...

      2. 2.An order for payments to or in respect of a...

      3. 2A.An order for periodical or other payments made, or having...

      4. 3.An order for maintenance or other payments to or in...

      5. 4.An order for periodical or other payments made or having...

      6. 5.. . . . . . . . . ....

      7. 6.An order (a) made or having effect as if made...

      8. 7.An order under section 43 of the National Assistance Act...

      9. 8.An order to which section 16 of the Maintenance Orders...

      10. 9.A maintenance order within the meaning of the Maintenance Orders...

      11. 10.. . . . . . . . . ....

      12. 11.A maintenance order within the meaning of Part I of...

      13. 12.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      14. 13.A maintenance order within the meaning of Part I of...

      15. 13A.A maintenance judgment within the meaning of Council Regulation (...

      16. 13B.(1) A decision, court settlement or authentic instrument which falls...

      17. 13C.A decision or maintenance arrangement which is registered in the...

      18. 14.An order for periodical or other payments made under Part...

      19. 15.An order for periodical or other payments made under Schedule...

    7. SCHEDULE 9

      Enforcement of Orders for Costs, Compensation, etc.

      1. Part I Cases where Payment Enforceable as on Summary Conviction

        1. Costs awarded by magistrates

          1. 1.Where a magistrates’ court, on the summary trial of an...

          2. 1A.Where a magistrates’ court makes an order as to costs...

          3. 2.Where an appellant to the Crown Courtagainst conviction or sentence...

        2. Costs awarded by assizes and quarter sessions

          1. 3.Where a person appeals to the Crown Courtagainst conviction or...

          2. 4.Where a person is prosecuted or tried on indictment ....

          3. 4A.Where the Crown Court makes an order as to costs...

          4. 5.. . . . . . . . . ....

        3. Costs awarded by Court of Appeal (criminal division) or House of Lords

          1. 6.Where the criminal division of the Court of Appeal makes...

          2. 8.. . . . . . . . . ....

        4. Miscellaneous orders for costs, compensation, damages etc.

          1. 9.Where a court makes an order by virtue of regulations...

          2. 9A.Where a court orders the payment of a charge in...

          3. 10.Where under Chapter 2 of Part 7 of the Sentencing...

          4. 12.Where under section 380 of the Sentencing Code a court...

          5. 12A.Where under section 42 of the Sentencing Code a court...

          6. 12B.Where under section 4 of the Prevention of Social Housing...

          7. 12C.Where under section 8 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015...

          8. Where under section 5 of the Isle of Wight County...

      2. Part II Cases where costs enforceable summarily as civil debt

        1. Costs awarded by magistrates

          1. 13.Where a magistrates’ court makes an order as to costs...

          2. 14.Where an appellant to the Crown Court from a magistrates’...

          3. 15. Cases where costs enforceable summarily as civil debt

        2. Costs awarded by assizes and quarter sessions

          1. 16.Any order for the payment of costs made by the...

        3. Costs awarded by Court of Appeal (criminal division)

          1. 16A.Where the criminal division of the Court of Appeal makes...

          2. 17–20. Cases where costs enforceable summarily as civil debt

          3. 21. Cases where costs enforceable summarily as civil debt

    8. SCHEDULE 10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    9. Schedule 11

      Enactments Repealed

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources