The Family Proceedings (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2006

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     3. In rule 2.28 (Entry for hearing and certificate of readiness)—

(a) in paragraph (3), for "The party lodging the certificate of readiness" substitute "Where a cause is defended, the party lodging the certificate of readiness"; and

(b) in paragraph (4), before "there are any further proceedings" insert "a cause is defended and".

     4. In rule 2.31 (Setting down for trial)—

(a) in paragraph (3), omit "and the bundle of pleadings"; and

(b) in paragraph (4), omit "and the bundle of pleadings".

     5. After rule 2.73 insert—

" Pension Protection Fund
     2.73A. —(1) This rule applies where—


(a) rule 2.73 applies; and

(b) the party with pension rights or the civil partner with pension rights ("the member") receives or has received notification in compliance with the Pension Protection Fund (Provision of Information) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005[3] ("the 2005 Regulations")—


(i) from the person responsible for the pension arrangement that there is an assessment period in relation to the pension arrangement; or

(ii) from the Board that it has assumed responsibility for the pension arrangement, or part of it.



    (2) If the person responsible for the pension arrangement notifies or has notified the member that there is an assessment period in relation to the pension arrangement, the member shall send to the other party or other civil partner—



(a) a copy of the notification; and

(b) a copy of the valuation summary,



in accordance with paragraph (3).

    (3) The member shall send the documents referred to in paragraph (2)—



(a) if available, when he sends the information under rule 2.73(2); or

(b) otherwise, within 7 days of receipt.



    (4) If—



(a) the pension arrangement is in an assessment period; and

(b) the Board notifies the member that it has assumed responsibility for the pension arrangement, or part of it,



the member shall—



(i) send a copy of the notification to the other party or other civil partner within 7 days of receipt; and

(ii) comply with paragraph (5).



    (5) Where paragraph (4) applies, the member shall—



(a) within 7 days of receipt of the notification, request the Board in writing to provide a forecast of his compensation entitlement as described in the Table in paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 1 to the 2005 Regulations; and

(b) send a copy of the forecast of his compensation entitlement to the other party or other civil partner within 7 days of receipt.



    (6) In this rule—



(a) in a matrimonial cause, all words and phrases defined in Article 27E(9) of the Order of 1978 have the meanings assigned by that paragraph;

(b) in a civil partnership cause, all words and phrases defined in paragraph 32 of Schedule 15 to the Act of 2004 have the meanings assigned by that paragraph; and

(c) "valuation summary" has the meaning assigned to it by paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 2 to the 2005 Regulations.



    (7) Paragraph (19) of rule 2.73 shall apply to this rule as it applies to rule 2.73.".

Brian Kerr

Charles Redpath

Richard McLaughlin

Anne Marie Kelly

Dated 4th July 2006



Signed by the authority of the Lord Chancellor



In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 12A(2) of the Family Law (Northern Ireland) Order 1993, I allow these Rules.


Bridget Prentice
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Department for Constitutional Affairs

Dated 5th July 2006

[2] S.R. 1996 No. 322 as amended by S.R. 1999 No. 88, S.R. 2000 No. 329, S.R. 2002 No. 137, S.R. 2003 No. 75, S.R. 2005 No. 144, S.R. 2005 No. 497 and S.R. 2005 No. 558.back

[3] S.R. 2005 No. 129 as amended by S.R. 2005 No. 357, S.R. 2005 No. 381 and S.R. 206 No. 140.back