Family Law Act 1981

Number 22 of 1981

FAMILY LAW ACT 1981

REVISED

Updated to 28 May 2019

This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the Family Law Act 1981. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975 (3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation of statute law.

All Acts up to and including Greyhound Racing Act 2019 (15/2019), enacted 28 May 2019, and all statutory instruments up to and including European Communities (Sheep Identification) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 243 of 2019), made 28 May 2019, were considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.

Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email to

revisedacts@lawreform.ie.


Number 22 of 1981


FAMILY LAW ACT 1981

REVISED

Updated to 28 May 2019


ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS



Number 22 of 1981


FAMILY LAW ACT 1981

REVISED

Updated to 28 May 2019


AN ACT TO ABOLISH ACTIONS FOR CRIMINAL CONVERSATION, ENTICEMENT AND HARBOURING OF A SPOUSE AND BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE, TO MAKE PROVISION IN RELATION TO THE PROPERTY OF, AND GIFTS TO AND BETWEEN, PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED AND IN RELATION TO THE VALIDITY OF THE CONSENT OF A MINOR SPOUSE FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE FAMILY HOME PROTECTION ACT, 1976, AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS. [23rd June, 1981]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:

Annotations

Editorial Notes:

E1

Proceedings under Act included in definition of “family law proceedings” (1.01.2018) by Mediation Act 2017 (27/2017), s. 2, S.I. No. 591 of 2019.

E2

Discretion to grant legal aid in respect of proceedings under Act provided (11.10.1996) by Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 (32/1995), s. 28(9)(c)(i), S.I. No. 272 of 1996.

E3

Circuit Court to be known as “Circuit Family Court” when exercising its jurisdiction to hear and determine proceedings under Act as provided (19.10.1989) by Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989 (6/1989), ss. 30 and 31, commenced as per s. 46(2).

E4

Circuit Family Court to hear and determine proceedings instituted under Act in a different place, or at different times or on different days, from the ordinary Circuit Court as provided (19.10.1989) by Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989 (6/1989), ss. 30 and 32, commenced as per s. 46(2).

E5

Conduct of family proceedings before Circuit Family Court and High Court to be as informal as practicable as provided (19.10.1989) by Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989 (6/1989), ss. 30 and 33, commenced as per s. 46(2).