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Family law

06 December 2013
Issue: 7587 / Categories: Case law , Law digest , In Court
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Constantinides v Constantinides [2013] EWHC 3688 (Fam), [2013] All ER (D) 336 (Nov)

Proceedings for the enforcement of a maintenance order which were registered in a magistrates’ court were not automatically ‘family proceedings’ so as to be the subject of the FPR, although by virtue of s 65(2) of the Magistrates’ Court Act 1980  the court “may if it thinks fit order that [they]...be treated as family proceedings...” Section 93(6) of the 1980 Act and s 5 of the Debtors Act 1869 had to be construed and applied so as to have the same practical result and effect. Accordingly, a magistrates’ court could not find, for the purposes of s 93(6), that there had been “wilful refusal or culpable neglect” unless it was satisfied that the person in default “has or has had...the means to pay...” A magistrates’ court could not lawfully commit a person to prison for default in paying a maintenance order, or a maintenance order which had been registered in that court, unless it was satisfied that the payer had, or had had, the

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

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