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

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Status of Children Act 1987
No. 26 of 1987

Contents

Commencement

Section Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
 Commencement Information
Ss. 1, 2 14 December 1987 Commenced as per s. 1(2)(a)
Ss. 3, 4 14 January 1988 Commenced as per s. 1(2)(a)
S. 5 14 December 1987 Commenced as per s. 1(2)(a)
Ss. 6 - 50 14 June 1988 Commenced as per s. 1(2)(b)

Amendments and other effects

How AffectedAffecting Provision
Cir. Ct. to be known as "the Circuit Family Court" when exercising its jurisdiction under etc. 6/1989, ss. 31, 46 (2)
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)
Court fees excluded for proceedings under S.I. No. 369 of 1997, arts. 2, 5(a)(v)
  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) (e)
Forms and procedures prescribed S.I. No. 510 of 2001
Hearing of proceedings under. 6/1989, ss. 32, 46 (2)
S.3, appl. in relation to revenue law 12/1988, s.74
S.3, appl. with mods. S. I. No. 168 of 1991, art. 4 (3)
  S. I. No. 169 of 1991, art. 4 (4)
S. 3(2)(b) par. substit. 21/2010, ss. 2, 172(a)
S. 5A(1), (2) form prescribed S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 54, rl. 4(2), (3), forms 54.3-8, sch. C
S. 27(3) am. 21/2010, ss. 2, 172(b)
S. 27(4)(a) am. 21/2010, ss. 2, 172(c)
S. 33 amended 48/2024, ss. 1(2), 77(a)
  9/2015, ss. 1(5), 79
S. 34(2) substituted 48/2024, ss. 1(2), 77(b)
S. 35(1) substit. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 80(a)
S. 35(1A)-(1B) ins. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 80(b)
S. 35(3) am. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 80(c)
S. 35(4) del. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 80(d)
S. 35(8) substit. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 80(e)
S. 36 applic. rstrct with prop. effect 31/2004, ss. 1 (2), 40 (1)-(10)
S. 37 am. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 81
S. 38 am. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 82
S. 38(1) form prescribed S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 61, rl. 2, forms 61.1-2, sch. C
  S.I. No. 152 of 1988, rls. 2, 20, schedule, pt I
S. 38(3) form prescribed S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 61, rl. 3, form 61.3, sch. C
  S.I. No. 152 of 1988, rls. 2, 21, schedule, pt I
S. 39 am. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 83
S. 39(3) application extended S.I. No. 215 of 1988, regs. 2, 4
S. 40 am. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 84(a)
S. 40(5) form prescribed S.I. No. 152 of 1988, rls. 2, 21, schedule, pt I
S. 40(6) am. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 84(b)
S. 41(2)(a), (b) am. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 85(a)-(b)
S. 41(2)(c) substit. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 85(c)
S. 42(2), (4) am. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 86
S. 43 am. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 87
S. 45 appl. 3/2004, ss. 1 (2), 22 (2) (d), 23 (1) (d)
S. 46(1) amended 18/2024, ss. 1(5), 228(a)
S. 46(1A) inserted 18/2024, ss. 1(5), 228(b)
S. 46(2) substit. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 88(a)
S. 46(2A) ins. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 88(b)
S. 46(3)(a) substit. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 88(c)
S. 46(5) ins. 9/2015, ss. 1(5), 88(d)
S. 48 rep. 3/2004, ss. 1 (2), 4, 5, sch. 2
S. 48 am. 36/1996, ss. 6 (2), 7 (3)

SIs made under the Act

SectionSIs made under the Act
Pt. VI (ss. 33-36) Circuit Court Rules (No.1) 1990 (S.I. No. 152 of 1990)
S. 41 Blood Tests (Parentage) Regulations 1988 (S.I. No. 215 of 1988)