Updated to 26 September 2025 (Act No. 10 of 2025 and S.I. No. 416 of 2025)
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Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004
No. 31 of 2004
Contents
Commencement
| Section | Commencement Date | Commencement Information |
|---|---|---|
| S. 1 | 20 September 2004 | Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Commencement) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 544 of 2004), art. 3(1) |
| Ss. 2-4 | 21 July 2004 | Commenced on enactment |
| Ss. 5, 6 | 20 September 2004 | Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Commencement) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 544 of 2004), art. 3(1) |
| S. 7 | 31 March 2005 | Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Commencement) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 544 of 2004), art. 3(2) |
| S. 8 | 20 September 2004 | Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Commencement) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 544 of 2004), art. 3(1) |
| S. 9-18 | 31 March 2005 | Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Commencement) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 544 of 2004), art. 3(2) |
| S. 19 | 20 September 2004 | Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Commencement) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 544 of 2004), art. 3(1) |
| S. 20 | 31 March 2005 | Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Commencement) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 544 of 2004), art. 3(2) |
| Ss. 21, 22 | 20 September 2004 | Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Commencement) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 544 of 2004), art. 3(1) |
| Ss. 23, 24 | 31 March 2005 | Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Commencement) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 544 of 2004), art. 3(2) |
| Ss. 25, 26 | 20 September 2004 | Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Commencement) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 544 of 2004), art. 3(1) |
| Ss. 27, 28 | 31 March 2005 | Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Commencement) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 544 of 2004), art. 3(2) |
| S. 29 | 20 September 2004 | Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Commencement) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 544 of 2004), art. 3(1) |
| S. 30 | Not yet commenced | Requires commencement order under s. 1(2) |
| Ss. 31-38 | 21 July 2004 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 39 | 20 September 2004 | Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Commencement) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 544 of 2004), art. 3(1) |
| S. 40 | 31 March 2005 | Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Commencement) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 544 of 2004), art. 3(2) |
| Ss. 41-44 | 20 September 2004 | Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Commencement) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 544 of 2004), art. 3(1) |
| S. 45-48 | 11 January 2017 | Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Commencement) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 2 of 2017), art. 2 |
| S. 49 | 21 July 2004 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 50-53 | 11 January 2017 | Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Commencement) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 2 of 2017), art. 2 |
| Ss. 54, 55 | 20 September 2004 | Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Commencement) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 544 of 2004), art. 3(1) |
| S. 56 | 21 July 2004 | Commenced on enactment |
Amendments and other effects
| How Affected | Affecting Provision |
|---|---|
| Act, Part 2 included in collectively cited Civil Liability Acts | 30/2017, s. 1(2) |
| District Court rules prescribed under. | S.I. No. 257 of 2005, rls. 1,3 |
| Superior Court rules prescribed under. | S.I. No. 248 of 2005, rls.. 1,3 |
| S. 2(1) definition of "personal injuries action" amended | 33/2022, ss. 1(5), 32 |
| S. 2(1) definition of "personal injuries action" reference construed | 33/2022, ss. 1(5), 19, 20(a)-(h), 23, 24(1) |
| S. 2(1) definition of "pleading" applied with modifications | 33/2022, ss. 1(5), 23, 24(1), (2)(a) |
| S. 8 applied with modifications | 33/2022, ss. 1(5), 23, 24(1), (2)(b) |
| S. 8(1) amended | 42/2018, ss. 13(2)(a), (b), 15(2) |
| 65/2015, ss. 1(2), 220(1)(a) | |
| S. 8(3) inserted | 65/2015, ss. 1(2), 220(1)(b) |
| S. 10(1) applied with modifications | 33/2022, ss. 1(5), 23, 24(1), (2)(c) |
| S. 10(2) applied with modifications | 33/2022, ss. 1(5), 23, 24(1), (2)(d) |
| S. 12 applied with modifications | 33/2022, ss. 1(5), 23, 24(1), (2)(e) |
| S. 14(4A) inserted | 42/2018, ss. 13(3), 15(2) |
| S. 15(1) amended | 27/2017, ss. 1(2), 22 |
| S. 15(4)(b)(ii)(II), bodies specified | S.I. No. 168 of 2005, rl. 2, schedule |
| S. 15, body prescribed | S.I. No. 336 of 2005, art. 2 |
| S. 17, date & periods prescribed | S.I. No. 169 of 2005, rls. 3, 4 |
| S. 17(1) amended | 65/2015, ss. 1(2), 220(2)(a) |
| S. 17(2) amended | 18/2023, ss. 1(4), 50 |
| S. 17(2A) inserted | 30/2017, ss. 1(3), 1(4), 6(a) |
| S. 17(5) amended | 30/2017, ss. 1(3), 1(4), 6(b) |
| S. 17(5A) inserted | 30/2017, ss. 1(3), 1(4), 6(c) |
| S. 17(6A) inserted | 65/2015, ss. 1(2), 220(1)(b) |
| S. 17(7) amended | 30/2017, ss. 1(3), 1(4), 6(d) |
| S. 17A inserted | 18/2023, ss. 1(4), 51 |
| 65/2015, ss. 1(2), 220(3) | |
| S. 22 applied with modifications | 33/2022, ss. 1(5), 23, 24(1), (2)(f) |
| S. 22(1) substituted | 33/2019, ss. 1(2), 99(a) as inserted by 4/2021, ss. 1(4), 30 |
| 33/2019, ss. 1(2), 99(a) | |
| S. 22(1A) inserted | 33/2019, ss. 1(2), 99(b) as inserted by 4/2021, ss. 1(4), 30 |
| S. 22(2) amended | 33/2019, ss. 1(2), 99(c) as inserted by 4/2021, ss. 1(4), 30 |
| 33/2019, ss. 1(2), 99(b) | |
| S. 22(3) substituted | 33/2019, ss. 1(2), 99(d) as inserted by 4/2021, ss. 1(4), 30 |
| S. 22(3) deleted | 33/2019, ss. 1(2), 99(c) |
| Part 2A (ss. 32A-D) inserted | 65/2015, ss. 1(2), 219 |
| S. 33 amended | 18/2023, ss. 1(4), 52 |
| S. 34A inserted | 18/2023, ss. 1(4), 53 |
| S. 35 substituted | 18/2023, ss. 1(4), 54 |
| S. 35(2) trans. of functns. under | S.I. No. 418 of 2011, arts. 1(2), 3 & sch. 1 |
| S. 36 am. | 10/2011, ss. 1(2), 6 & 93 |
| S. 38 substituted | 18/2023, ss. 1(4), 55 |
| S. 39 amended | 48/2024, ss. 1(2), 6, schedule 2, ref. 5 |
| 18/2024, ss. 1(5), 231(a), (b) | |
| 6/2018, ss. 1(2), 50(1) | |
| 32/2013, ss. 1(2), 4 | |
| S. 39(I) amended | 24/2023, ss. 1(5), 69(a) |
| S. 39(m) inserted | 24/2023, ss. 1(5), 69(b) |
| S. 40 repealed | 48/2024, ss. 1(2), 5, schedule 1 |
| S. 40 appl. | 24/2010, ss. 1(2), 145, 199 |
| S. 40(2) rep. | 32/2013, ss. 1(2), 2(2) |
| S. 40(3) am. | 14/2008, ss. 1(2), 31(a) |
| S. 40(3), classes of persons prescribed | S.I. No. 337 of 2005, reg. 2 & schedule |
| S. 40(3A) ins. | 32/2013, ss. 1(2), 5 |
| S. 40(4), persons prescribed | S.I. No. 338 of 2005, reg. 3 & schedule |
| S. 40(6)(b), (7)(b), bodies prescribed | S.I. No. 170 of 2005, art. 2 & schedule |
| S. 40(6)(b), (7)(b), matters prescribed | S.I. No. 339 of 2005, reg. 2 |
| S. 40(7A) inserted | 18/2023, ss. 1(4), 56 |
| S. 40(11) subsec. ins. | 14/2008, ss. 1(2), 31(b) |
| S. 40A repealed | 48/2024, ss. 1(2), 5, schedule 1 |
| S. 40A ins. | 32/2013, ss. 1(2), 6 |
| S. 53A inserted | 22/2016, s. 1 |
SIs made under the Act
| Section | SIs made under the Act |
|---|---|
| S. 15 | Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Bodies Prescribed Under Section 15) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 168 of 2005) |
| Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Bodies Prescribed Under Section 15) (No. 2) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 336 of 2005) | |
| S. 17 | Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Section 17) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 169 of 2005) |
| S. 40(3) | Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Section 40(3)) Regulations 2005 (S.I. No. 337 of 2005) |
| S. 40(4) | Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Section 40(4)) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 338 of 2005) |
| S. 40(6), (7) | Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Matters Prescribed Under Section 40) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 339 of 2005) |
| Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (Bodies Prescribed Under Section 40) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 170 of 2005) |