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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.

Enforcement of Court Orders Act 1940
No. 23 of 1940

Contents

Commencement

Section Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
 Commencement Information
Whole Act 10 July 1940 Commenced on enactment

Amendments and other effects

How AffectedAffecting Provision
Act included in collectively cited Enforcement of Court Orders Acts 21/2009, s. 3(2)
  S. 10(2)
Application of collectively cited Enforcement of Court Orders Acts restricted 14/1947, s. 53
S. 3 substituted 26/1986, ss. 3 (2), 10 (5)
S. 4(1) substituted 26/1986, s.3 (3)
S. 4(1) application restricted 26/2005, ss. 346 (9) (a), 364 (1)
  27/1993, ss. 286 (8), 304
  1/1981, s. 316(8) as inserted by 5/1992, s. 21(d)
S. 5 form prescribed S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 53, rl. 7, forms 53.6-7, sch. C
S. 5(4) inserted 26/1986, s.3 (4)
S. 5(4) application restricted 26/2005, ss. 346 (9) (b), 364 (1)
  27/1993, ss. 286 (8), 304
  1/1981, s. 316(8) as inserted by 5/1992, s. 21(d)
S. 6 substituted 21/2009, s. 2(1)
S.6 form prescribed S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 53, rls. 8, 12, forms 53.8-11, sch. C
S. 6 court may release bankrupt or debtor from imprisonment under 27/1988, ss. 2, 26
  27/1988, ss. 2, 87(6)
S. 6 application restricted 18/1954, s.107(2), as substituted by 8/1987, s. 10
S. 6 fee specified S.I. No. 301 of 2009, reg. 4 and sch. 2
S. 6(2)(b) amended 28/2015, ss. 26(1)(a), 27(2)
S. 6(5)(a)(i) substituted 28/2015, ss. 26(1)(b)(i), 27(2)
S. 6(5)(b)(i) amended 28/2015, ss. 26(1)(b)(ii), 27(2)
S. 6(6)(a) substituted 28/2015, ss. 26(1)(c)(i), 27(2)
S. 6(6)(b) amended 28/2015, ss. 26(1)(c)(ii), 27(2)
S. 6(7)(a), (b) amended 28/2015, ss. 26(1)(d)(i), (ii) 27(2)
S. 6(7)(c), (d) deleted 28/2015, ss. 26(1)(d)(iii), 27(2)
S. 6(8) deleted 28/2015, ss. 26(1)(e), 27(2)
S. 6(9) deleted with saver 28/2015, ss. 26(1)(e), (3)(a), 27(2)
S. 6(10) deleted with saver 28/2015, ss. 26(1)(e), (3)(a), 27(2)
S. 6(11) amended 28/2015, ss. 26(1)(f), (3)(b), 27(2)
S. 6A inserted 21/2009, s. 2(1)
S. 6A repealed with saver 28/2015, ss. 26(2), (4), 27(2)
S. 6A(1) forms prescribed for certificates S.I. No. 301 of 2009, reg. 3(1) and sch. 1
S. 7 repealed with transitional provisions  11/1976, ss. 2, 30
S. 7(a) repealed 36/1971, s. 24
S. 8 form prescribed S.I. No. 96 of 1976, rls. 2, 30
S. 8 substituted 23/2011, s. 63
S. 8 applied S.I. No. 274 of 2011, regs. 1(2), 10(9)(b), as amended by S.I. No. 612 of 2011. reg. 7(a)
  S.I. No. 52 of 2002, regs. 2, 6(10)(a)
  3/1988, ss. 7(7), 15(3), as substituted by 28/1994, s. 11
S. 8 references to "maintenance creditor" construed 28/1994. ss. 2, 4(2)(a)
S. 8 refs. to "applicant" construed S.I. No. 594 of 2019, reg. 14(9)
  S.I. No. 274 of 2011, regs. 1(2), 10(10)
  S.I. No. 52 of 2002, regs. 2, 6(11)
  52/1998, ss. 1(2), 9(10)
  3/1988, ss. 7(7), 15(3), as amended by 28/1994, s. 11
  16/1974, s.14 (8) (b), as amended by 11/1976, s. 9(8)
S. 8 fee specified S.I. No. 301 of 2009, reg. 4 and sch. 2
S. 8 application restricted S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 56, rl. 13
  18/1954, s. 107(1), as substituted by 8/1987, s. 10
S. 8(1) amended 48/2024, ss. 1(2), 72(a)
  21/2009, s. 2(2)(a)
S. 8(1) effect of proceedings, orders under 24/2010, ss. 1(2), 62, 185
  11/1976, ss. 2, 19
S. 8(1) form prescribed S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 57, rls 3-8, forms 57.1-13, sch. C
  S.I. No. 58 of 1975, rls. 2, 9, schedule, forms 7, 8, 9
S. 8(1) references construed 24/2010, ss. 1(2), 65, 136
  33/1996, ss. 1 (2), 30
  26/1995, ss. 1 (2), 22
  6/1989, ss. 28, 46 (2)
  26/1986, ss. 3 (5), 5 (4)
  11/1976, ss. 2, 29
S. 8(2) amended 48/2024, ss. 1(2), 72(b)
S.8(2) form prescribed S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 57, rl. 8, forms 57.14, 57.15, sch. C
S. 8(2)(d) amended 21/2009, s. 2(2)(b)
S.8(2)(d) form prescribed S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 57, rl. 8, form 57.16, sch. C
S. 8(3) amended 48/2024, ss. 1(2), 72(c)
  21/2009, s. 2(2)(c)
S. 8(5) amended 48/2024, ss. 1(2), 72(d)
  21/2009, s. 2(2)(c)
S. 8(7) references construed 24/2010, ss. 1(2), 65, 136
  33/1996, ss. 1 (2), 30
  26/1995, ss. 1 (2), 22
  6/1989, ss. 28, 46 (2)
  26/1986, ss. 3 (5), 5 (4)
  11/1976, ss. 2, 29
S. 8(7) application restricted S.I. No. 274 of 2011, regs. 1(2), 8(2), 10(12)
  S.I. No. 52 of 2002, regs. 2, 6(13)
  52/1998, ss. 1(2), 9(12)
  3/1988, ss. 7(8), 15(3), as amended by 28/1994, s. 11
S. 9 substituted 21/2009, s. 2(3)
S. 9 application restricted S.I. No. 121 of 2007, reg. 7
  S.I. No. 331 of 1972, regs. 2, 7
S. 10 applied S.I. No. 52 of 2002, reg. 6(10)(b)

SIs made under the Act

SectionSIs made under the Act
S. 6A(3) Enforcement of Court Orders (Legal Aid) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 301 of 2009)
S. 6A(4) Enforcement of Court Orders (Legal Aid) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 743 of 2024)
  Enforcement of Court Orders (Legal Aid) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 363 of 2011)
  Enforcement of Court Orders (Legal Aid) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. No. 137 of 2010)
  Enforcement of Court Orders (Legal Aid) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 301 of 2009)