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Updated to 23 October 2025 (Act No. 10 of 2025 and S.I. No. 506 of 2025)

All effects below are reflected in the most recent Revised Act.

Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act 1976
No. 11 of 1976

Contents

Commencement

Section Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
 Commencement Information
Whole Act 6 May 1976 S. 2

Amendments and other effects

How AffectedAffecting Provision
Amended (in pt.) 28/1994, ss. 2, 14 (1) (c) (i)
Conduct of Dist. Ct. proceedings under. 6/1989, ss. 45, 46 (2)
Conduct of proceedings in Cir. and High Cts. 6/1989, ss. 33, 46 (2)
Constr. of refs. 52/1998, ss. 1 (2), 22 (2)
Court fees excluded for proceedings under S.I. No. 369 of 1997, arts. 2, 5(a)(iii)
  S.I. No. 343 of 1989, arts. 2, 6
  S.I. No. 342 of 1989, arts. 2, 5
Ct. powers in proceedings under. 26/1995, ss. 1 (2) (a), 47 (1) (6) (b)
Discharge of oo. under. 26/1995, ss. 1 (2) (a), 44
Fees excluded S.I. No. 45 of 1982, arts. 2, 5
Fees payable in proceedings brought under restricted S.I. No. 21 of 1984, art. 5
  S.I. No. 91 of 1981, arts. 2, 5
Forms and procedures prescribed S.I. No. 510 of 2001
Hearing of proceedings under. 6/1989, ss. 32, 46 (2)
Oo. ctd. 26/1995, ss. 1 (2), 44
Saving for cert. refs., etc. in. 2/1985, ss. 2 (4), 9 (2)
Trans. of functns. under. 42/2004, ss. 3 (1), 4, 58, 59 (1) (2) (3), sch. 3
S. 3 amended 26/1995, ss. 1(2), 43(a)(ii)
S. 3 constr. of refs. 21/2010, ss. 2(1), 156(1)
S. 3 def. amended 26/1995, ss. 1(2)(a), 43(a)(i) (ii)
S. 3(1) amended 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 71
  26/1987, ss. 1(2)(b), 16
  5/1990, ss. 15, 16
S. 3(1), defs. of "allowance", "benefit", "competent authority", ins. 4/1989, s.13 (1) (a) (2)
S. 3(1) def. of "antecedent order" amended S.I. No. 274 of 2011, regs. 1(2), 8(4), 23(2)
  S.I. No. 209 of 2011, regs. 1(2), 5(3)(b)
  33/1996, ss. 1(2), 27
  26/1995, ss. 1(2), 43(a)(i)
  6/1989, ss. 25, 46(2)
S. 4 substituted 8/2002, ss. 16, 17 (3), sch. pt. 10 (1)
S. 5 enforceable maintenance order deemed to be order under S.I. No. 594 of 2019, regs. 14(4), 14(5)
S. 5 application extended 6/2018, ss. 1(2), 15(1), (2)(b)
  S.I. No. 274 of 2011, regs. 1(2), 10
  28/1994, ss. 2, 14(3)
  3/1988, ss. 7(2)(a), (5), 15(3)
  S.I. No. 52 of 2002, regs. 2, 6(3), (18)
S. 5 forms prescribed S.I. No. 96 of 1976, rls. 2, 7
Ss. 5, 6, 7 power of court to discharge order under 6/1989, ss. 39, 46 (2)
S. 5(1)(a) form prescribed S.I. No. 158 of 1982, ord. 68, rl. 7(a)
  S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 54, rl. 4(1), forms 54.1, 54.2, sch. C
S. 5(1)(b) form prescribed S.I. No. 158 of 1982, ord. 68, rl. 7(b)
  S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 54, rl. 4(1), forms 54.1, 54.2, sch. C
S. 5(1)(c) amended 26/1987, ss. 1(2)(b), 17(a)
S. 5(2) amended 6/1989, ss. 38(2)(a), 46(2)
S. 5(3) subsec. del. 6/1989, ss. 38(2)(b), 46(2)
S. 5(4) subsec. substit. 26/1987, ss. 1(2)(b), 17(b)
S. 5(4)(a) amended 4/1989, s. 13(1)(b), (2)
S. 5(4)(c) par. ins. 6/1989, ss. 38(2)(c), 46(2)
S. 5A inserted 26/1987, ss. 1 (2) (b), 18
S. 5A enforceable maintenance order deemed to be order under S.I. No. 594 of 2019, regs. 14(4), 14(5)
S. 5A application extended 6/2018, ss. 1(2), 15(1), (2)(b)
  S.I. No. 274 of 2011, regs. 1(2), 10
  28/1994, ss. 2, 14 (3)
  S.I. No. 52 of 2002, reg. 2, 6(3), (18)
S. 5A amended 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 72(a)
  4/1989, s. 13(1)(c), (2)
S. 5A(1), (2) forms prescribed S.I. No. 152 of 1988, rls. 2, 8, schedule, pt. 1
S. 5A(3)(b)(i) substit. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 72(b)
S. 5B inserted 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 73
S. 5B enforceable maintenance order deemed to be order under S.I. No. 594 of 2019, regs. 14(4), 14(5)
S. 5B application extended 6/2018, ss. 1(2), 15(1), (2)(b)
S. 5C inserted 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 73
S. 5C enforceable maintenance order deemed to be order under S.I. No. 594 of 2019, regs. 14(4), 14(5)
S. 6 enforceable maintenance order deemed to be order under S.I. No. 594 of 2019, regs. 14(4)(b), 14(5)
S. 6 application extended 6/2018, ss. 1(2), 15(1), (2)(b)
S. 6 provns. relating to variation or revocation of o. under. 3/1988, ss. 7 (2) (a), 15 (3)
S. 6(1) form prescribed S.I. No. 158 of 1982, ord. 68, rl. 7(c)
S. 6(1)(a), (3) form prescribed S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 54, rl. 5, forms 54.9, 54.10, sch. C
S. 6(1)(a) form prescribed S.I. No. 96 of 1976, rls. 2, 8
S. 6(1)(b) form prescribed S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 54, rl. 6, forms 54.11, 54.12, sch. C
  S.I. No. 96 of 1976, rls. 2, 9
S. 6(1)(b) am. 6/1989, ss. 38 (3) (a), 46 (2)
S. 6(2) am. 6/1989, ss. 38 (3) (b), 46 (2)
S. 6(3) am. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 74(a)
  26/1995, ss. 1 (2) (a), 43 (b)
S. 6(3) form prescribed S.I. No. 96 of 1976, rls. 2, 8
S. 6(3A) ins. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 74(b)
S. 6(4) del. 6/1989, ss. 38 (3) (c), 46 (2)
S. 6(5) am. 6/1989, ss. 38 (3) (d), 46 (2)
S. 7 application extended 6/2018, ss. 1(2), 15(1), (2)(b)
S. 7 form prescribed S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 54, rl. 7, form 54.13, sch. C
  S.I. No. 96 of 1976, rls. 2, 10
S. 7 power ext. 28/1994, ss. 2, 14 (4)
S. 8 am. 28/1994, ss. 2, 4 (2) (a)
S. 8 appl. 28/1994, ss. 2, 14 (10)
S. 8(b) am. 40/1997, ss. 1 (2), 15 (a)
S. 8A appl. 28/1994, ss. 2, 14 (10)
S. 8A ins. 26/1987, ss. 1 (2) (b), 20
S. 8A am. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 75
S. 8A(b) am. 40/1997, ss. 1 (2), 15 (b)
S. 8B ins. 26/1995, ss. 1 (2), 43 (c)
S. 9 appl. with mods. 6/1989, ss. 24, 46 (2)
  26/1995, ss. 1 (2) (a), 20
  33/1996, ss. 1 (2), 28 (b)
S. 9(1) form prescribed S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 54, rl. 12, forms 54.19, 54.20 , sch. C
S. 9(1)(b) form prescribed S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 54, rl. 10, forms 54.16, 54.17 , sch. C
  S.I. No. 96 of 1976, rls. 2, 14
S. 9(2) appl. with mods. 6/1993, ss. 7 (2) (a), 14 (2)
S. 9(3) form prescribed S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 54, rl. 12, forms 54.19, 54.20 , sch. C
  S.I. No. 96 of 1976, rls. 2, 15
S. 9(3) constr. of refs. amended 33/1996, ss. 1 (2), 28 (c)
S. 9(4) am. 4/1989, s.13 (1) (d) (2)
S. 9(4) appl. with mods. 6/1993, ss. 7 (2) (a), 14 (2)
S. 9(4) constr. of refs. 33/1996, ss. 1 (2), 28 (a)
S. 9 (5) (6) appl. with mods. 6/1993, ss. 7 (2) (a), 14 (2)
S. 9A ins. 23/2011, s. 31
S. 9B ins. 23/2011, s. 31
S. 10 form prescribed S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 56, rl. 3, forms 56.1- 4, sch. C
  S.I. No. 96 of 1976, rls. 2, 18
Pt. 3 (ss. 10-20) appl. with mods. 6/1993, ss. 7 (2) (b), 14 (2)
S. 10 appl. S.I. No. 274 of 2011, regs. 1(2), 10(9)(b)
  S.I. No. 52 of 2002, regs. 2, 6(10)(b)
S. 10(1A) subsec. ins. 26/1995, ss. 1 (2) (a), 43 (d) (i)
S. 10(2) am. 26/1995, ss. 1 (2) (a), 43 (d) (ii)
S. 10(2)(a) am. 4/1989, s. 13(1)(e), (2)
S. 10(2)(b) am. 4/1989, s. 13(1)(f), (2)
S. 10(3) subsec. substit. 26/1995, ss. 1(2)(a), 43(d)(iii)
S. 10(3)(b)(i) am. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 76
S. 12 am. 4/1989, s.13 (1) (g) (2)
S. 13(1)(b) form prescribed S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 56, rl. 8, form 56.5, sch. C
  S.I. No. 96 of 1976, rls. 2, 23
S. 15 form prescribed S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 56, rls. 9, 10, forms 56.6-7, sch. C
  S.I. No. 96 of 1976, rls. 2, 24
S. 16 am. 40/2013, ss. 1(2), 97, sch. 2 pt. 2
S. 16(1) am. 11/2013, ss. 1(2), 72(1), sch. 6, item 5
  42/2004, ss. 3 (1), 75, sch. 6, pt. 5
S. 16(2)-(3) trans. of functns. under S.I. No. 418 of 2011, arts. 1(2), 3 & sch. 1
S. 17 form prescribed S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 56, rls. 11, 12, forms 56.8-10, sch. C
  S.I. No. 96 of 1976, rls. 2, 27
S. 21A application extended 6/2018, ss. 1(2), 15(1), (2)(b)
S. 21A applic. ext. S.I. No. 274 of 2011, regs. 1(2), 10
  S.I. No. 52 of 2002, regs. 2, 6(3), (18)
  28/1994, ss. 2, 14(3)
S. 21A forms prescribed S.I. No. 152 of 1988, rls. 2, 9, schedule, pt. 1
S. 21A ins. 26/1987, ss. 1(2)(b), 21(1)
S. 21A mod. 27/1993, ss. 41 (2), 304
S. 21A(1) am. with saving 15/2002, ss. 1 (2), 19
S. 21A(1) form prescribed S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 54, rl. 8, forms 54.14-15, sch. C
S. 21A(1)(b) subsec. substit. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 77
S. 21A am. 26/2005, ss. 51(2), 364(1)
S. 22 rep. transit. provn. 21/1981, ss. 17(1), 18
S. 22 form prescribed S.I. No. 96 of 1976, rls. 2, 36
S. 22(2) form prescribed S.I. No. 96 of 1976, rls. 2, 38
S. 22(3) form prescribed S.I. No. 96 of 1976, rls. 2, 39
S. 23 amount of payment for liable relative under S.I. No. 142 of 2007, art. 253(1)(c)
S. 23 s. prosp. 11/1981, ss. 12, 33 (3)
S. 23(1) am. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 78(a)
  26/1987, ss. 1 (2) (b), 22
S. 23(2)(a) am. 20/1991, ss. 11, 23 (3)
S. 23(2)(b), (c) am. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 78(b)
S. 23(2)(a) am. with saving. 15/2002, ss. 1 (2), 20
S. 23(3) subsec. substit. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 78(c)
S. 23(4)-(5) subsecs. ins. 26/1995, ss. 1 (2), 43 (e)
S. 24 am. 26/1987, ss. 1 (2) (b), 23
S. 25 applic. rstrct. with prosp. effect 31/2004, ss. 1 (2), 40 (1)-(10)
S. 29 appl. with mods. 6/1993, ss. 7 (2) (c), 14 (2)

SIs made under the Act

SectionSIs made under the Act
None