Child Maintenance Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 Explanatory Notes

  • Explanatory Notes Table of contents

  1. Introduction

  2. Background and Policy Objectives

  3. Consultation

  4. Options Considered

  5. Overview

  6. Commentary on Sections

    1. Part 1: Additional functions of the Department

      1. Section 1: Promotion of child maintenance

      2. Section 2: Provision of information and guidance

      3. Section 3: Fees

      4. Section 4: Agency arrangements and provision of services

      5. Section 5: Contracting out

      6. Section 6: Supplementary provisions

    2. Part 2 – Child Support etc.

      1. Removal of compulsion for benefit claimants

        1. Section 7: Repeal of Articles 9 and 43

      2. Maintenance calculations

        1. Section 8: Changes to the calculation of maintenance

        2. Section 9: Power to regulate supersession

        3. Section 10: Determination of applications for a variation

        4. Section 11: Transfer of cases to new rules

      3. Collection and enforcement

        1. Section 12: Use of deduction from earnings orders as basic method of payment

        2. Section 13: Deduction from earnings orders: the liable person’s earnings

        3. Section 14: Orders for regular deductions from accounts

        4. Section 15: Lump sum deduction orders

        5. Section 16: Orders preventing avoidance

        6. Section 17: Administrative liability orders

        7. Section 18: Disqualification for holding or obtaining a travel authorisation

        8. Section 19: Curfew orders

        9. Section 20: Commitment to prison

        10. Section 21: Disqualification for driving

      4. Debt management powers

        1. Section 22: Power to treat liability as satisfied

        2. Section 23: Power to accept part payment of arrears in full and final satisfaction

        3. Section 24: Power to write off arrears

        4. Section 25: Transfer of arrears

      5. Miscellaneous

        1. Section 26: Meaning of “child”

        2. Section 27: Notification of Change of Address

        3. Section 28: Additional special case

        4. Section 29: Recovery of arrears from deceased’s estate

        5. Section 30: Disclosure of information relating to family proceedings

        6. Section 31: Disclosure of information to credit reference agencies

        7. Section 32: Pilot schemes

        8. Section 33: Extinction of liability in respect of interest and fees

        9. Section 34: Use of information

        10. Section 35: Liable relative provisions: exclusion of parental duty to maintain

    3. Part 3 - General

      1. Section 36: Regulations

      2. Section 37: General interpretation

      3. Section 38: Minor and consequential amendments

      4. Section 39: Repeals

      5. Section 40: Transition

      6. Section 41: Commencement

      7. Section 42: Short title

      8. Schedule 1: Changes to the calculation of maintenance

      9. Schedule 2: Maintenance calculations: transfer of cases to new rules

      10. Schedule 3: Use of information

        1. Powers in relation to use of information

      11. Schedule 4: Minor and consequential amendments

      12. Schedule 5: Repeals

  7. Hansard Reports

  • Explanatory Notes Table of contents

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