48.— (1) On application by one or both of the civil partners, the court may make an order under this section if it is satisfied that to do so would adequately protect F14[the interests of the civil partners and any dependent child of the civil partners].

(2) An order under this section may make a rule of court a provision in an agreement in writing entered into by the civil partners—

(a) by which one civil partner undertakes to make periodical payments towards the maintenance of F14[the other civil partner or of any dependent child of the civil partners or of both that other civil partner and any dependent child of the civil partners], or

(b) governing the rights and liabilities of the civil partners towards one another in respect of the making or securing of payments (other than payments referred to in paragraph (a)) or the disposition or use of any property.

(3) An order under subsection (2)(a) is deemed to be a maintenance order for the purposes of F14[sections 50 and 51, Part 6 and section 140].