Divorce Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. 3 (2nd Supp.))

Short Title

Marginal note:Short title

1 This Act may be cited as the Divorce Act.

Interpretation

Marginal note:Definitions

• 2 (1) In this Act,

  age of majority

  age of majority, in respect of a child, means the age of majority as determined by the laws of the province where the child habitually resides, or, if the child habitually resides outside of Canada, eighteen years of age; (majeur)

  appellate court

  appellate court, in respect of an appeal from a court, means the court exercising appellate jurisdiction with respect to that appeal; (cour d’appel)

  applicable guidelines

  applicable guidelines means

  • (a) if both spouses or former spouses are habitually resident in the same province at the time an application is made for a child support order or for a variation order in respect of a child support order or the amount of a child support is to be calculated or recalculated under section 25.01 or 25.1, and that province has been designated by an order made under subsection (5), the laws of the province specified in the order, and

  • (b) in any other case, the Federal Child Support Guidelines; (lignes directrices applicables)

  child of the marriage

  child of the marriage means a child of two spouses or former spouses who, at the material time,

  • (a) is under the age of majority and who has not withdrawn from their charge, or

  • (b) is the age of majority or over and under their charge but unable, by reason of illness, disability or other cause, to withdraw from their charge or to obtain the necessaries of life; (enfant à charge)

  child support order

  child support order means an order made under subsection 15.1(1); (ordonnance alimentaire au profit d’un enfant)

  competent authority

  competent authority means, except as otherwise provided, a tribunal or other entity in a country other than Canada, or a subdivision of such a country, that has the authority to make a decision under their law respecting any subject matter that could be dealt with under this Act; (autorité compétente)

  contact order

  contact order means an order made under subsection 16.5(1); (ordonnance de contact)

  corollary relief proceeding

  corollary relief proceeding means a proceeding in a court in which either or both former spouses seek a child support order, a spousal support order or a parenting order; (action en mesures accessoires)

  court

  court, in respect of a province, means

  • (a) for the Province of Ontario, the Superior Court of Justice,

  • (a.1) for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of the Province,

  • (b) for the Province of Quebec, the Superior Court,

  • (c) for the Provinces of Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island, the Supreme Court of the Province,

  • (d) for the Province of New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan or Alberta, the Court of Queen’s Bench for the Province, and

  • (e) for Yukon or the Northwest Territories, the Supreme Court, and in Nunavut, the Nunavut Court of Justice,

  and includes such other court in the province the judges of which are appointed by the Governor General as is designated by the Lieutenant Governor in Council of the province as a court for the purposes of this Act; (tribunal)

  custody

  custody[Repealed, 2019, c. 16, s. 1]

  custody order

  custody order[Repealed, 2019, c. 16, s. 1]

  decision-making responsibility

  decision-making responsibility means the responsibility for making significant decisions about a child’s well-being, including in respect of

  • (a) health;

  • (b) education;

  • (c) culture, language, religion and spirituality; and

  • (d) significant extra-curricular activities; (responsabilités décisionnelles)

  divorce proceeding

  divorce proceeding means a proceeding in a court in which either or both spouses seek a divorce alone or together with a child support order, a spousal support order or a parenting order; (action en divorce)

  family dispute resolution process

  family dispute resolution process means a process outside of court that is used by parties to a family law dispute to attempt to resolve any matters in dispute, including negotiation, mediation and collaborative law; (mécanisme de règlement des différends familiaux)

  family justice services

  family justice services means public or private services intended to help persons deal with issues arising from separation or divorce; (services de justice familiale)

  family member

  family member includes a member of the household of a child of the marriage or of a spouse or former spouse as well as a dating partner of a spouse or former spouse who participates in the activities of the household; (membre de la famille)

  family violence

  family violence means any conduct, whether or not the conduct constitutes a criminal offence, by a family member towards another family member, that is violent or threatening or that constitutes a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour or that causes that other family member to fear for their own safety or for that of another person — and in the case of a child, the direct or indirect exposure to such conduct — and includes

  • (a) physical abuse, including forced confinement but excluding the use of reasonable force to protect themselves or another person;

  • (b) sexual abuse;

  • (c) threats to kill or cause bodily harm to any person;

  • (d) harassment, including stalking;

  • (e) the failure to provide the necessaries of life;

  • (f) psychological abuse;

  • (g) financial abuse;

  • (h) threats to kill or harm an animal or damage property; and

  • (i) the killing or harming of an animal or the damaging of property; (violence familiale)

  Federal Child Support Guidelines

  Federal Child Support Guidelines means the guidelines made under section 26.1; (lignes directrices fédérales sur les pensions alimentaires pour enfants)

  legal adviser

  legal adviser means any person who is qualified, in accordance with the law of a province, to represent or provide legal advice to another person in any proceeding under this Act; (conseiller juridique)

  order assignee

  order assignee means a minister, member, agency or public body to whom a support order is assigned under subsection 20.1(1); (cessionnaire de la créance alimentaire)

  parenting order

  parenting order means an order made under subsection 16.1(1); (ordonnance parentale)

  parenting time

  parenting time means the time that a child of the marriage spends in the care of a person referred to in subsection 16.1(1), whether or not the child is physically with that person during that entire time; (temps parental)

  provincial child support service

  provincial child support service means any service, agency or body designated in an agreement with a province under subsection 25.01(1) or 25.1(1); (service provincial des aliments pour enfants)

  relocation

  relocation means a change in the place of residence of a child of the marriage or a person who has parenting time or decision-making responsibility — or who has a pending application for a parenting order — that is likely to have a significant impact on the child’s relationship with

  • (a) a person who has parenting time, decision-making responsibility or an application for a parenting order in respect of that child pending; or

  • (b) a person who has contact with the child under a contact order; (déménagement important)

  spousal support order

  spousal support order means an order made under subsection 15.2(1); (ordonnance alimentaire au profit d’un époux)

  spouse

  spouse includes, in subsection 6(1) and sections 15.1 to 16.96, 21.1, 25.01 and 25.1, a former spouse; (époux)

  support order

  support order means a child support order or a spousal support order; (ordonnance alimentaire)

  variation order

  variation order means an order made under subsection 17(1); (ordonnance modificative)

  variation proceeding

  variation proceeding means a proceeding in a court in which either or both former spouses seek a variation order. (action en modification)

• Marginal note:Child of the marriage

  (2) For the purposes of the definition child of the marriage in subsection (1), a child of two spouses or former spouses includes

  • (a) any child for whom they both stand in the place of parents; and

  • (b) any child of whom one is the parent and for whom the other stands in the place of a parent.

• Marginal note:Term not restrictive

  (3) The use of the term “application” to describe a proceeding under this Act in a court shall not be construed as limiting the name under which and the form and manner in which that proceeding may be taken in that court, and the name, manner and form of the proceeding in that court shall be such as is provided for by the rules regulating the practice and procedure in that court.

• Marginal note:Idem

  (4) The use in section 21.1 of the terms “affidavit” and “pleadings” to describe documents shall not be construed as limiting the name that may be used to refer to those documents in a court and the form of those documents, and the name and form of the documents shall be such as is provided for by the rules regulating the practice and procedure in that court.

• Marginal note:Provincial child support guidelines

  (5) The Governor in Council may, by order, designate a province for the purposes of the definition applicable guidelines in subsection (1) if the laws of the province establish comprehensive guidelines for the determination of child support that deal with the matters referred to in section 26.1. The order shall specify the laws of the province that constitute the guidelines of the province.

• Marginal note:Amendments included

  (6) The guidelines of a province referred to in subsection (5) include any amendments made to them from time to time.

Jurisdiction

Marginal note:Jurisdiction in divorce proceedings

• 3 (1) A court in a province has jurisdiction to hear and determine a divorce proceeding if either spouse has been habitually resident in the province for at least one year immediately preceding the commencement of the proceeding.

• Marginal note:Jurisdiction if two proceedings commenced on different days

  (2) If divorce proceedings between the same spouses are pending in two courts that would otherwise have jurisdiction under subsection (1) and were commenced on different days, and the proceeding that was commenced first is not discontinued, the court in which a divorce proceeding was commenced first has exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine any divorce proceeding then pending between the spouses and the second divorce proceeding is deemed to be discontinued.

• Marginal note:Jurisdiction if two proceedings commenced on same day

  (3) If divorce proceedings between the same spouses are pending in two courts that would otherwise have jurisdiction under subsection (1) and were commenced on the same day, and neither proceeding is discontinued within 40 days after it was commenced, the Federal Court shall, on application by either or both spouses, determine which court retains jurisdiction by applying the following rules:

  • (a) if at least one of the proceedings includes an application for a parenting order, the court that retains jurisdiction is the court in the province in which the child is habitually resident;

  • (b) if neither of the proceedings includes an application for a parenting order, the court that retains jurisdiction is the court in the province in which the spouses last maintained a habitual residence in common if one of the spouses is habitually resident in that province; and

  • (c) in any other case, the court that retains jurisdiction is the court that the Federal Court determines to be the most appropriate.

Marginal note:Jurisdiction in corollary relief proceedings

• 4 (1) A court in a province has jurisdiction to hear and determine a corollary relief proceeding if

  • (a) either former spouse is habitually resident in the province at the commencement of the proceeding; or

  • (b) both former spouses accept the jurisdiction of the court.

• Marginal note:Jurisdiction if two proceedings commenced on different days

  (2) If corollary relief proceedings between the same former spouses and in respect of the same matter are pending in two courts that would otherwise have jurisdiction under subsection (1) and were commenced on different days, and the proceeding that was commenced first is not discontinued, the court in which a corollary relief proceeding was commenced first has exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine any corollary relief proceeding then pending between the former spouses in respect of that matter and the second corollary relief proceeding is deemed to be discontinued.

• Marginal note:Jurisdiction if two proceedings commenced on same day

  (3) If corollary relief proceedings between the same former spouses and in respect of the same matter are pending in two courts that would otherwise have jurisdiction under subsection (1) and were commenced on the same day, and neither proceeding is discontinued within 40 days after it was commenced, the Federal Court shall, on application by either or both former spouses, determine which court retains jurisdiction by applying the following rules:

  • (a) if at least one of the proceedings includes an application for a parenting order, the court that retains jurisdiction is the court in the province in which the child is habitually resident;

  • (b) if neither of the proceedings includes an application for a parenting order, the court that retains jurisdiction is the court in the province in which the former spouses last maintained a habitual residence in common if one of the former spouses is habitually resident in that province; and

  • (c) in any other case, the court that retains jurisdiction is the court that the Federal Court determines to be the most appropriate.

Marginal note:Jurisdiction in variation proceedings

• 5 (1) A court in a province has jurisdiction to hear and determine a variation proceeding if

  • (a) either former spouse is habitually resident in the province at the commencement of the proceeding; or

  • (b) both former spouses accept the jurisdiction of the court.

• Marginal note:Jurisdiction if two proceedings commenced on different days

  (2) If variation proceedings between the same former spouses and in respect of the same matter are pending in two courts that would otherwise have jurisdiction under subsection (1) and were commenced on different days, and the proceeding that was commenced first is not discontinued, the court in which a variation proceeding was commenced first has exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine any variation proceeding then pending between the former spouses in respect of that matter and the second variation proceeding is deemed to be discontinued.

• Marginal note:Jurisdiction if two proceedings commenced on same day

  (3) If variation proceedings between the same former spouses and in respect of the same matter are pending in two courts that would otherwise have jurisdiction under subsection (1) and were commenced on the same day, and neither proceeding is discontinued within 40 days after it was commenced, the Federal Court shall, on application by either or both former spouses, determine which court retains jurisdiction by applying the following rules:

  • (a) if at least one of the proceedings includes an application for a variation order in respect of a parenting order, the court that retains jurisdiction is the court in the province in which the child is habitually resident;

  • (b) if neither of the proceedings includes an application for a variation order in respect of a parenting order, the court that retains jurisdiction is the court in the province in which the former spouses last maintained a habitual residence in common if one of the former spouses is habitually resident in that province; and

  • (c) in any other case, the court that retains jurisdiction is the court that the Federal Court determines to be the most appropriate.

Marginal note:Transfer of proceeding if parenting order applied for

• 6 (1) If an application for an order under section 16.1 is made in a divorce proceeding or corollary relief proceeding to a court in a province and the child of the marriage in respect of whom the order is sought is habitually resident in another province, the court may, on application by a spouse or on its own motion, transfer the proceeding to a court in that other province.

• Marginal note:Transfer of variation proceeding in respect of parenting order

  (2) If an application for a variation order in respect of a parenting order is made in a variation proceeding to a court in a province and the child of the marriage in respect of whom the variation order is sought is habitually resident in another province, the court may, on application by a former spouse or on its own motion, transfer the variation proceeding to a court in that other province.

• (3) [Repealed, 2019, c. 16, s. 5]

• Marginal note:Exclusive jurisdiction

  (4) Notwithstanding sections 3 to 5, a court in a province to which a proceeding is transferred under this section has exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine the proceeding.

Marginal note:Jurisdiction — application for contact order

• 6.1 (1) If a court in a province is seized of an application for a parenting order in respect of a child, the court has jurisdiction to hear and determine an application for a contact order in respect of the child.

• Marginal note:Jurisdiction — no pending variation proceeding

  (2) If no variation proceeding related to a parenting order in respect of a child is pending, a court in a province in which the child is habitually resident has jurisdiction to hear and determine an application for a contact order, an application for a variation order in respect of a contact order or an application for a variation order in respect of a parenting order brought by a person referred to in subparagraph 17(1)(b)(ii), unless the court considers that a court in another province is better placed to hear and determine the application, in which case the court shall transfer the proceeding to the court in that other province.

• Marginal note:No jurisdiction — contact order

  (3) For greater certainty, if no parenting order has been made in respect of a child, no application for a contact order may be brought under this Act in respect of the child.

Marginal note:Removal or retention of child of marriage

• 6.2 (1) If a child of the marriage is removed from or retained in a province contrary to sections 16.9 to 16.96 or provincial law, a court in the province in which the child was habitually resident that would have had jurisdiction under sections 3 to 5 immediately before the removal or retention has jurisdiction to hear and determine an application for a parenting order, unless the court is satisfied

  • (a) that all persons who are entitled to object to the removal or retention have ultimately consented or acquiesced to the removal or retention;

  • (b) that there has been undue delay in contesting the removal or retention by those persons; or

  • (c) that a court in the province in which the child is present is better placed to hear and determine the application.

• Marginal note:Transfer

  (2) If the court in the province in which the child was habitually resident immediately before the removal or retention is satisfied that any of paragraphs (1)(a) to (c) apply,

  • (a) the court shall transfer the application to the court in the province in which the child is present; and

  • (b) the court may transfer any other application under this Act in respect of the parties to the court in the province in which the child is present.

• Marginal note:Federal Court

  (3) If after the child’s removal from or retention in a province, two proceedings are commenced on the same day as described in subsection 3(3), 4(3) or 5(3), this section prevails over those subsections and the Federal Court shall determine which court has jurisdiction under this section. A reference in this section to “court in the province in which the child was habitually resident” is to be read as “Federal Court”.

Marginal note:Child habitually resident outside Canada

• 6.3 (1) If a child of the marriage is not habitually resident in Canada, a court in the province that would otherwise have jurisdiction under sections 3 to 5 to make a parenting order or contact order, or a variation order in respect of such an order, has jurisdiction to do so only in exceptional circumstances and if the child is present in the province.

• Marginal note:Exceptional circumstances

  (2) In determining whether there are exceptional circumstances, the court shall consider all relevant factors, including

  • (a) whether there is a sufficient connection between the child and the province;

  • (b) the urgency of the situation;

  • (c) the importance of avoiding a multiplicity of proceedings and inconsistent decisions; and

  • (d) the importance of discouraging child abduction.

Marginal note:Exercise of jurisdiction by judge

7 The jurisdiction conferred on a court by this Act to grant a divorce shall be exercised only by a judge of the court without a jury.

Duties

Parties to a Proceeding

Marginal note:Best interests of child

7.1 A person to whom parenting time or decision-making responsibility has been allocated in respect of a child of the marriage or who has contact with that child under a contact order shall exercise that time, responsibility or contact in a manner that is consistent with the best interests of the child.

Marginal note:Protection of children from conflict

7.2 A party to a proceeding under this Act shall, to the best of their ability, protect any child of the marriage from conflict arising from the proceeding.

Marginal note:Family dispute resolution process

7.3 To the extent that it is appropriate to do so, the parties to a proceeding shall try to resolve the matters that may be the subject of an order under this Act through a family dispute resolution process.

Marginal note:Complete, accurate and up-to-date information

7.4 A party to a proceeding under this Act or a person who is subject to an order made under this Act shall provide complete, accurate and up-to-date information if required to do so under this Act.

Marginal note:Duty to comply with orders

7.5 For greater certainty, a person who is subject to an order made under this Act shall comply with the order until it is no longer in effect.

Marginal note:Certification

7.6 Every document that formally commences a proceeding under this Act, or that responds to such a document, that is filed with a court by a party to a proceeding shall contain a statement by the party certifying that they are aware of their duties under sections 7.1 to 7.5.

Legal Adviser

Marginal note:Reconciliation

• 7.7 (1) Unless the circumstances of the case are of such a nature that it would clearly not be appropriate to do so, it is the duty of every legal adviser who undertakes to act on a spouse’s behalf in a divorce proceeding

  • (a) to draw to the attention of the spouse the provisions of this Act that have as their object the reconciliation of spouses; and

  • (b) to discuss with the spouse the possibility of the reconciliation of the spouses and to inform the spouse of the marriage counselling or guidance facilities known to the legal adviser that might be able to assist the spouses to achieve a reconciliation.

• Marginal note:Duty to discuss and inform

  (2) It is also the duty of every legal adviser who undertakes to act on a person’s behalf in any proceeding under this Act

  • (a) to encourage the person to attempt to resolve the matters that may be the subject of an order under this Act through a family dispute resolution process, unless the circumstances of the case are of such a nature that it would clearly not be appropriate to do so;

  • (b) to inform the person of the family justice services known to the legal adviser that might assist the person

    • (i) in resolving the matters that may be the subject of an order under this Act, and

    • (ii) in complying with any order or decision made under this Act; and

  • (c) to inform the person of the parties’ duties under this Act.

• Marginal note:Certification

  (3) Every document that formally commences a proceeding under this Act, or that responds to such a document, that is filed with a court by a legal adviser shall contain a statement by the legal adviser certifying that they have complied with this section.

Court

Marginal note:Purpose of section

• 7.8 (1) The purpose of this section is to facilitate

  • (a) the identification of orders, undertakings, recognizances, agreements or measures that may conflict with an order under this Act; and

  • (b) the coordination of proceedings.

• Marginal note:Information regarding other orders or proceedings

  (2) In a proceeding for corollary relief and in relation to any party to that proceeding, the court has a duty to consider if any of the following are pending or in effect, unless the circumstances of the case are of such a nature that it would clearly not be appropriate to do so:

  • (a) a civil protection order or a proceeding in relation to such an order;

  • (b) a child protection order, proceeding, agreement or measure; or

  • (c) an order, proceeding, undertaking or recognizance in relation to any matter of a criminal nature.

  In order to carry out the duty, the court may make inquiries of the parties or review information that is readily available and that has been obtained through a search carried out in accordance with provincial law, including the rules made under subsection 25(2).

• Marginal note:Definition of civil protection order

  (3) In this section, civil protection order means a civil order that is made to protect a person’s safety, including an order that prohibits a person from

  • (a) being in physical proximity to a specified person or following a specified person from place to place;

  • (b) contacting or communicating with a specified person, either directly or indirectly;

  • (c) attending at or being within a certain distance of a specified place or location;

  • (d) engaging in harassing or threatening conduct directed at a specified person;

  • (e) occupying a family home or a residence; or

  • (f) engaging in family violence.

Divorce

Marginal note:Divorce

• 8 (1) A court of competent jurisdiction may, on application by either or both spouses, grant a divorce to the spouse or spouses on the ground that there has been a breakdown of their marriage.

• Marginal note:Breakdown of marriage

  (2) Breakdown of a marriage is established only if

  • (a) the spouses have lived separate and apart for at least one year immediately preceding the determination of the divorce proceeding and were living separate and apart at the commencement of the proceeding; or

  • (b) the spouse against whom the divorce proceeding is brought has, since celebration of the marriage,

    • (i) committed adultery, or

    • (ii) treated the other spouse with physical or mental cruelty of such a kind as to render intolerable the continued cohabitation of the spouses.

• Marginal note:Calculation of period of separation

  (3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(a),

  • (a) spouses shall be deemed to have lived separate and apart for any period during which they lived apart and either of them had the intention to live separate and apart from the other; and

  • (b) a period during which spouses have lived separate and apart shall not be considered to have been interrupted or terminated

    • (i) by reason only that either spouse has become incapable of forming or having an intention to continue to live separate and apart or of continuing to live separate and apart of the spouse’s own volition, if it appears to the court that the separation would probably have continued if the spouse had not become so incapable, or

    • (ii) by reason only that the spouses have resumed cohabitation during a period of, or periods totalling, not more than ninety days with reconciliation as its primary purpose.

9 [Repealed, 2019, c. 16, s. 9]

Marginal note:Duty of court — reconciliation

• 10 (1) In a divorce proceeding, it is the duty of the court, before considering the evidence, to satisfy itself that there is no possibility of the reconciliation of the spouses, unless the circumstances of the case are of such a nature that it would clearly not be appropriate to do so.

• Marginal note:Adjournment

  (2) Where at any stage in a divorce proceeding it appears to the court from the nature of the case, the evidence or the attitude of either or both spouses that there is a possibility of the reconciliation of the spouses, the court shall

  • (a) adjourn the proceeding to afford the spouses an opportunity to achieve a reconciliation; and

  • (b) with the consent of the spouses or in the discretion of the court, nominate

    • (i) a person with experience or training in marriage counselling or guidance, or

    • (ii) in special circumstances, some other suitable person,

    to assist the spouses to achieve a reconciliation.

• Marginal note:Resumption

  (3) Where fourteen days have elapsed from the date of any adjournment under subsection (2), the court shall resume the proceeding on the application of either or both spouses.

• Marginal note:Nominee not competent or compellable

  (4) No person nominated by a court under this section to assist spouses to achieve a reconciliation is competent or compellable in any legal proceedings to disclose any admission or communication made to that person in his or her capacity as a nominee of the court for that purpose.

• Marginal note:Evidence not admissible

  (5) Evidence of anything said or of any admission or communication made in the course of assisting spouses to achieve a reconciliation is not admissible in any legal proceedings.

Marginal note:Duty of court — bars

• 11 (1) In a divorce proceeding, it is the duty of the court

  • (a) to satisfy itself that there has been no collusion in relation to the application for a divorce and to dismiss the application if it finds that there was collusion in presenting it;

  • (b) to satisfy itself that reasonable arrangements have been made for the support of any children of the marriage, having regard to the applicable guidelines, and, if such arrangements have not been made, to stay the granting of the divorce until such arrangements are made; and

  • (c) where a divorce is sought in circumstances described in paragraph 8(2)(b), to satisfy itself that there has been no condonation or connivance on the part of the spouse bringing the proceeding, and to dismiss the application for a divorce if that spouse has condoned or connived at the act or conduct complained of unless, in the opinion of the court, the public interest would be better served by granting the divorce.

• Marginal note:Revival

  (2) Any act or conduct that has been condoned is not capable of being revived so as to constitute a circumstance described in paragraph 8(2)(b).

• Marginal note:Condonation

  (3) For the purposes of this section, a continuation or resumption of cohabitation during a period of, or periods totalling, not more than ninety days with reconciliation as its primary purpose shall not be considered to constitute condonation.

• Marginal note:Definition of collusion

  (4) In this section, collusion means an agreement or conspiracy to which an applicant for a divorce is either directly or indirectly a party for the purpose of subverting the administration of justice, and includes any agreement, understanding or arrangement to fabricate or suppress evidence or to deceive the court, but does not include an agreement to the extent that it provides for separation between the parties, financial support, division of property or the exercise of parenting time or decision-making responsibility.

Marginal note:Effective date generally

• 12 (1) Subject to this section, a divorce takes effect on the thirty-first day after the day on which the judgment granting the divorce is rendered.

• Marginal note:Special circumstances

  (2) Where, on or after rendering a judgment granting a divorce,

  • (a) the court is of the opinion that by reason of special circumstances the divorce should take effect earlier than the thirty-first day after the day on which the judgment is rendered, and

  • (b) the spouses agree and undertake that no appeal from the judgment will be taken, or any appeal from the judgment that was taken has been abandoned,

  the court may order that the divorce takes effect at such earlier time as it considers appropriate.

• Marginal note:Effective date where appeal

  (3) A divorce in respect of which an appeal is pending at the end of the period referred to in subsection (1), unless voided on appeal, takes effect on the expiration of the time fixed by law for instituting an appeal from the decision on that appeal or any subsequent appeal, if no appeal has been instituted within that time.

• Marginal note:Certain extensions to be counted

  (4) For the purposes of subsection (3), the time fixed by law for instituting an appeal from a decision on an appeal includes any extension thereof fixed pursuant to law before the expiration of that time or fixed thereafter on an application instituted before the expiration of that time.

• Marginal note:No late extensions of time for appeal

  (5) Notwithstanding any other law, the time fixed by law for instituting an appeal from a decision referred to in subsection (3) may not be extended after the expiration of that time, except on an application instituted before the expiration of that time.

• Marginal note:Effective date where decision of Supreme Court of Canada

  (6) A divorce in respect of which an appeal has been taken to the Supreme Court of Canada, unless voided on the appeal, takes effect on the day on which the judgment on the appeal is rendered.

• Marginal note:Certificate of divorce

  (7) Where a divorce takes effect in accordance with this section, a judge or officer of the court that rendered the judgment granting the divorce or, where that judgment has been appealed, of the appellate court that rendered the judgment on the final appeal, shall, on request, issue to any person a certificate that a divorce granted under this Act dissolved the marriage of the specified persons effective as of a specified date.

• Marginal note:Conclusive proof

  (8) A certificate referred to in subsection (7), or a certified copy thereof, is conclusive proof of the facts so certified without proof of the signature or authority of the person appearing to have signed the certificate.

Marginal note:Legal effect throughout Canada

13 On taking effect, a divorce granted under this Act has legal effect throughout Canada.

Marginal note:Marriage dissolved

14 On taking effect, a divorce granted under this Act dissolves the marriage of the spouses.

Corollary Relief

15 [Repealed, 2019, c. 16, s. 11]

Child Support Orders

Marginal note:Child support order

• 15.1 (1) A court of competent jurisdiction may, on application by either or both spouses, make an order requiring a spouse to pay for the support of any or all children of the marriage.

• Marginal note:Interim order

  (2) Where an application is made under subsection (1), the court may, on application by either or both spouses, make an interim order requiring a spouse to pay for the support of any or all children of the marriage, pending the determination of the application under subsection (1).

• Marginal note:Guidelines apply

  (3) A court making an order under subsection (1) or an interim order under subsection (2) shall do so in accordance with the applicable guidelines.

• Marginal note:Terms and conditions

  (4) The court may make an order under subsection (1) or an interim order under subsection (2) for a definite or indefinite period or until a specified event occurs, and may impose terms, conditions or restrictions in connection with the order or interim order as it thinks fit and just.

• Marginal note:Court may take agreement, etc., into account

  (5) Notwithstanding subsection (3), a court may award an amount that is different from the amount that would be determined in accordance with the applicable guidelines if the court is satisfied

  • (a) that special provisions in an order, a judgment or a written agreement respecting the financial obligations of the spouses, or the division or transfer of their property, directly or indirectly benefit a child, or that special provisions have otherwise been made for the benefit of a child; and

  • (b) that the application of the applicable guidelines would result in an amount of child support that is inequitable given those special provisions.

• Marginal note:Reasons

  (6) Where the court awards, pursuant to subsection (5), an amount that is different from the amount that would be determined in accordance with the applicable guidelines, the court shall record its reasons for having done so.

• Marginal note:Consent orders

  (7) Notwithstanding subsection (3), a court may award an amount that is different from the amount that would be determined in accordance with the applicable guidelines on the consent of both spouses if it is satisfied that reasonable arrangements have been made for the support of the child to whom the order relates.

• Marginal note:Reasonable arrangements

  (8) For the purposes of subsection (7), in determining whether reasonable arrangements have been made for the support of a child, the court shall have regard to the applicable guidelines. However, the court shall not consider the arrangements to be unreasonable solely because the amount of support agreed to is not the same as the amount that would otherwise have been determined in accordance with the applicable guidelines.

Spousal Support Orders

Marginal note:Spousal support order

• 15.2 (1) A court of competent jurisdiction may, on application by either or both spouses, make an order requiring a spouse to secure or pay, or to secure and pay, such lump sum or periodic sums, or such lump sum and periodic sums, as the court thinks reasonable for the support of the other spouse.

• Marginal note:Interim order

  (2) Where an application is made under subsection (1), the court may, on application by either or both spouses, make an interim order requiring a spouse to secure or pay, or to secure and pay, such lump sum or periodic sums, or such lump sum and periodic sums, as the court thinks reasonable for the support of the other spouse, pending the determination of the application under subsection (1).

• Marginal note:Terms and conditions

  (3) The court may make an order under subsection (1) or an interim order under subsection (2) for a definite or indefinite period or until a specified event occurs, and may impose terms, conditions or restrictions in connection with the order as it thinks fit and just.

• Marginal note:Factors

  (4) In making an order under subsection (1) or an interim order under subsection (2), the court shall take into consideration the condition, means, needs and other circumstances of each spouse, including

  • (a) the length of time the spouses cohabited;

  • (b) the functions performed by each spouse during cohabitation; and

  • (c) any order, agreement or arrangement relating to support of either spouse.

• Marginal note:Spousal misconduct

  (5) In making an order under subsection (1) or an interim order under subsection (2), the court shall not take into consideration any misconduct of a spouse in relation to the marriage.

• Marginal note:Objectives of spousal support order

  (6) An order made under subsection (1) or an interim order under subsection (2) that provides for the support of a spouse should

  • (a) recognize any economic advantages or disadvantages to the spouses arising from the marriage or its breakdown;

  • (b) apportion between the spouses any financial consequences arising from the care of any child of the marriage over and above any obligation for the support of any child of the marriage;

  • (c) relieve any economic hardship of the spouses arising from the breakdown of the marriage; and

  • (d) in so far as practicable, promote the economic self-sufficiency of each spouse within a reasonable period of time.

Priority

Marginal note:Priority to child support

• 15.3 (1) Where a court is considering an application for a child support order and an application for a spousal support order, the court shall give priority to child support in determining the applications.

• Marginal note:Reasons

  (2) Where, as a result of giving priority to child support, the court is unable to make a spousal support order or the court makes a spousal support order in an amount that is less than it otherwise would have been, the court shall record its reasons for having done so.

• Marginal note:Consequences of reduction or termination of child support order

  (3) Where, as a result of giving priority to child support, a spousal support order was not made, or the amount of a spousal support order is less than it otherwise would have been, any subsequent reduction or termination of that child support constitutes a change of circumstances for the purposes of applying for a spousal support order, or a variation order in respect of the spousal support order, as the case may be.

Best Interests of the Child

Marginal note:Best interests of child

• 16 (1) The court shall take into consideration only the best interests of the child of the marriage in making a parenting order or a contact order.

• Marginal note:Primary consideration

  (2) When considering the factors referred to in subsection (3), the court shall give primary consideration to the child’s physical, emotional and psychological safety, security and well-being.

• Marginal note:Factors to be considered

  (3) In determining the best interests of the child, the court shall consider all factors related to the circumstances of the child, including

  • (a) the child’s needs, given the child’s age and stage of development, such as the child’s need for stability;

  • (b) the nature and strength of the child’s relationship with each spouse, each of the child’s siblings and grandparents and any other person who plays an important role in the child’s life;

  • (c) each spouse’s willingness to support the development and maintenance of the child’s relationship with the other spouse;

  • (d) the history of care of the child;

  • (e) the child’s views and preferences, giving due weight to the child’s age and maturity, unless they cannot be ascertained;

  • (f) the child’s cultural, linguistic, religious and spiritual upbringing and heritage, including Indigenous upbringing and heritage;

  • (g) any plans for the child’s care;

  • (h) the ability and willingness of each person in respect of whom the order would apply to care for and meet the needs of the child;

  • (i) the ability and willingness of each person in respect of whom the order would apply to communicate and cooperate, in particular with one another, on matters affecting the child;

  • (j) any family violence and its impact on, among other things,

    • (i) the ability and willingness of any person who engaged in the family violence to care for and meet the needs of the child, and

    • (ii) the appropriateness of making an order that would require persons in respect of whom the order would apply to cooperate on issues affecting the child; and

  • (k) any civil or criminal proceeding, order, condition, or measure that is relevant to the safety, security and well-being of the child.

• Marginal note:Factors relating to family violence

  (4) In considering the impact of any family violence under paragraph (3)(j), the court shall take the following into account:

  • (a) the nature, seriousness and frequency of the family violence and when it occurred;

  • (b) whether there is a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour in relation to a family member;

  • (c) whether the family violence is directed toward the child or whether the child is directly or indirectly exposed to the family violence;

  • (d) the physical, emotional and psychological harm or risk of harm to the child;

  • (e) any compromise to the safety of the child or other family member;

  • (f) whether the family violence causes the child or other family member to fear for their own safety or for that of another person;

  • (g) any steps taken by the person engaging in the family violence to prevent further family violence from occurring and improve their ability to care for and meet the needs of the child; and

  • (h) any other relevant factor.

• Marginal note:Past conduct

  (5) In determining what is in the best interests of the child, the court shall not take into consideration the past conduct of any person unless the conduct is relevant to the exercise of their parenting time, decision-making responsibility or contact with the child under a contact order.

• Marginal note:Parenting time consistent with best interests of child

  (6) In allocating parenting time, the court shall give effect to the principle that a child should have as much time with each spouse as is consistent with the best interests of the child.

• Marginal note:Parenting order and contact order

  (7) In this section, a parenting order includes an interim parenting order and a variation order in respect of a parenting order, and a contact order includes an interim contact order and a variation order in respect of a contact order.

Parenting Orders

Marginal note:Parenting order

• 16.1 (1) A court of competent jurisdiction may make an order providing for the exercise of parenting time or decision-making responsibility in respect of any child of the marriage, on application by

  • (a) either or both spouses; or

  • (b) a person, other than a spouse, who is a parent of the child, stands in the place of a parent or intends to stand in the place of a parent.

• Marginal note:Interim order

  (2) The court may, on application by a person described in subsection (1), make an interim parenting order in respect of the child, pending the determination of an application made under that subsection.

• Marginal note:Application by person other than spouse

  (3) A person described in paragraph (1)(b) may make an application under subsection (1) or (2) only with leave of the court.

• Marginal note:Contents of parenting order

  (4) The court may, in the order,

  • (a) allocate parenting time in accordance with section 16.2;

  • (b) allocate decision-making responsibility in accordance with section 16.3;

  • (c) include requirements with respect to any means of communication, that is to occur during the parenting time allocated to a person, between a child and another person to whom parenting time or decision-making responsibility is allocated; and

  • (d) provide for any other matter that the court considers appropriate.

• Marginal note:Terms and conditions

  (5) The court may make an order for a definite or indefinite period or until a specified event occurs, and may impose any terms, conditions and restrictions that it considers appropriate.

• Marginal note:Family dispute resolution process

  (6) Subject to provincial law, the order may direct the parties to attend a family dispute resolution process.

• Marginal note:Relocation

  (7) The order may authorize or prohibit the relocation of the child.

• Marginal note:Supervision

  (8) The order may require that parenting time or the transfer of the child from one person to another be supervised.

• Marginal note:Prohibition on removal of child

  (9) The order may prohibit the removal of a child from a specified geographic area without the written consent of any specified person or without a court order authorizing the removal.

Marginal note:Parenting time — schedule

• 16.2 (1) Parenting time may be allocated by way of a schedule.

• Marginal note:Day-to-day decisions

  (2) Unless the court orders otherwise, a person to whom parenting time is allocated under paragraph 16.1(4)(a) has exclusive authority to make, during that time, day-to-day decisions affecting the child.

Marginal note:Allocation of decision-making responsibility

16.3 Decision-making responsibility in respect of a child, or any aspect of that responsibility, may be allocated to either spouse, to both spouses, to a person described in paragraph 16.1(1)(b), or to any combination of those persons.

Marginal note:Entitlement to information

16.4 Unless the court orders otherwise, any person to whom parenting time or decision-making responsibility has been allocated is entitled to request from another person to whom parenting time or decision-making responsibility has been allocated information about the child’s well-being, including in respect of their health and education, or from any other person who is likely to have such information, and to be given such information by those persons subject to any applicable laws.

Contact Orders

Marginal note:Contact order

• 16.5 (1) A court of competent jurisdiction may, on application by a person other than a spouse, make an order providing for contact between that person and a child of the marriage.

• Marginal note:Interim order

  (2) The court may, on application by a person referred to in subsection (1), make an interim order providing for contact between that person and the child, pending the determination of the application made under that subsection.

• Marginal note:Leave of the court

  (3) A person may make an application under subsection (1) or (2) only with leave of the court, unless they obtained leave of the court to make an application under section 16.1.

• Marginal note:Factors in determining whether to make order

  (4) In determining whether to make a contact order under this section, the court shall consider all relevant factors, including whether contact between the applicant and the child could otherwise occur, for example during the parenting time of another person.

• Marginal note:Contents of contact order

  (5) The court may, in the contact order,

  • (a) provide for contact between the applicant and the child in the form of visits or by any means of communication; and

  • (b) provide for any other matter that the court considers appropriate.

• Marginal note:Terms and conditions

  (6) The court may make a contact order for a definite or indefinite period or until a specified event occurs, and may impose any terms, conditions and restrictions that it considers appropriate.

• Marginal note:Supervision

  (7) The order may require that the contact or transfer of the child from one person to another be supervised.

• Marginal note:Prohibition on removal of child

  (8) The order may provide that a child shall not be removed from a specified geographic area without the written consent of any specified person or without a court order authorizing the removal.

• Marginal note:Variation of parenting order

  (9) If a parenting order in respect of the child has already been made, the court may make an order varying the parenting order to take into account a contact order it makes under this section, and subsections 17(3) and (11) apply as a consequence with any necessary modifications.

Parenting Plan

Marginal note:Parenting plan

• 16.6 (1) The court shall include in a parenting order or a contact order, as the case may be, any parenting plan submitted by the parties unless, in the opinion of the court, it is not in the best interests of the child to do so, in which case the court may make any modifications to the plan that it considers appropriate and include it in the order.

• Marginal note:Definition of parenting plan

  (2) In subsection (1), parenting plan means a document or part of a document that contains the elements relating to parenting time, decision-making responsibility or contact to which the parties agree.

Change in Place of Residence

Marginal note:Non-application

16.7 Section 16.8 does not apply to a change in the place of residence that is a relocation.

Marginal note:Notice

• 16.8 (1) A person who has parenting time or decision-making responsibility in respect of a child of the marriage and who intends to change their place of residence or that of the child shall notify any other person who has parenting time, decision-making responsibility or contact under a contact order in respect of that child of their intention.

• Marginal note:Form and content of notice

  (2) The notice shall be given in writing and shall set out

  • (a) the date on which the change is expected to occur; and

  • (b) the address of the new place of residence and contact information of the person or child, as the case may be.

• Marginal note:Exception

  (3) Despite subsections (1) and (2), the court may, on application, provide that the requirements in those subsections do not apply or may modify them, including where there is a risk of family violence.

• Marginal note:Application without notice

  (4) An application referred to in subsection (3) may be made without notice to any other party.

Relocation

Marginal note:Notice

• 16.9 (1) A person who has parenting time or decision-making responsibility in respect of a child of the marriage and who intends to undertake a relocation shall notify, at least 60 days before the expected date of the proposed relocation and in the form prescribed by the regulations, any other person who has parenting time, decision-making responsibility or contact under a contact order in respect of that child of their intention.

• Marginal note:Content of notice

  (2) The notice must set out

  • (a) the expected date of the relocation;

  • (b) the address of the new place of residence and contact information of the person or child, as the case may be;

  • (c) a proposal as to how parenting time, decision-making responsibility or contact, as the case may be, could be exercised; and

  • (d) any other information prescribed by the regulations.

• Marginal note:Exception

  (3) Despite subsections (1) and (2), the court may, on application, provide that the requirements in those subsections, or in the regulations made for the purposes of those subsections, do not apply or may modify them, including where there is a risk of family violence.

• Marginal note:Application without notice

  (4) An application referred to in subsection (3) may be made without notice to any other party.

Marginal note:Relocation authorized

• 16.91 (1) A person who has given notice under section 16.9 and who intends to relocate a child may do so as of the date referred to in the notice if

  • (a) the relocation is authorized by a court; or

  • (b) the following conditions are satisfied:

    • (i) the person with parenting time or decision-making responsibility in respect of the child who has received a notice under subsection 16.9(1) does not object to the relocation within 30 days after the day on which the notice is received, by setting out their objection in

      • (A) a form prescribed by the regulations, or

      • (B) an application made under subsection 16.1(1) or paragraph 17(1)(b), and

    • (ii) there is no order prohibiting the relocation.

• Marginal note:Content of form

  (2) The form must set out

  • (a) a statement that the person objects to the proposed relocation;

  • (b) the reasons for the objection;

  • (c) the person’s views on the proposal for the exercise of parenting time, decision-making responsibility or contact, as the case may be, that is set out in the notice referred to in subsection 16.9(1); and

  • (d) any other information prescribed by the regulations.

Marginal note:Best interests of child — additional factors to be considered

• 16.92 (1) In deciding whether to authorize a relocation of a child of the marriage, the court shall, in order to determine what is in the best interests of the child, take into consideration, in addition to the factors referred to in section 16,

  • (a) the reasons for the relocation;

  • (b) the impact of the relocation on the child;

  • (c) the amount of time spent with the child by each person who has parenting time or a pending application for a parenting order and the level of involvement in the child’s life of each of those persons;

  • (d) whether the person who intends to relocate the child complied with any applicable notice requirement under section 16.9, provincial family law legislation, an order, arbitral award, or agreement;

  • (e) the existence of an order, arbitral award, or agreement that specifies the geographic area in which the child is to reside;

  • (f) the reasonableness of the proposal of the person who intends to relocate the child to vary the exercise of parenting time, decision-making responsibility or contact, taking into consideration, among other things, the location of the new place of residence and the travel expenses; and

  • (g) whether each person who has parenting time or decision-making responsibility or a pending application for a parenting order has complied with their obligations under family law legislation, an order, arbitral award, or agreement, and the likelihood of future compliance.

• Marginal note:Factor not to be considered

  (2) In deciding whether to authorize a relocation of the child, the court shall not consider, if the child’s relocation was prohibited, whether the person who intends to relocate the child would relocate without the child or not relocate.

Marginal note:Burden of proof — person who intends to relocate child

• 16.93 (1) If the parties to the proceeding substantially comply with an order, arbitral award, or agreement that provides that a child of the marriage spend substantially equal time in the care of each party, the party who intends to relocate the child has the burden of proving that the relocation would be in the best interests of the child.

• Marginal note:Burden of proof — person who objects to relocation

  (2) If the parties to the proceeding substantially comply with an order, arbitral award or agreement that provides that a child of the marriage spends the vast majority of their time in the care of the party who intends to relocate the child, the party opposing the relocation has the burden of proving that the relocation would not be in the best interests of the child.

• Marginal note:Burden of proof — other cases

  (3) In any other case, the parties to the proceeding have the burden of proving whether the relocation is in the best interests of the child.

Marginal note:Power of court — interim order

16.94 A court may decide not to apply subsections 16.93(1) and (2) if the order referred to in those subsections is an interim order.

Marginal note:Costs relating to exercise of parenting time

16.95 If a court authorizes the relocation of a child of the marriage, it may provide for the apportionment of costs relating to the exercise of parenting time by a person who is not relocating between that person and the person who is relocating the child.

Marginal note:Notice — persons with contact

• 16.96 (1) A person who has contact with a child of the marriage under a contact order shall notify, in writing, any person with parenting time or decision-making responsibility in respect of that child of their intention to change their place of residence, the date on which the change is expected to occur, the address of their new place of residence and their contact information.

• Marginal note:Notice — significant impact

  (2) If the change is likely to have a significant impact on the child’s relationship with the person, the notice shall be given at least 60 days before the change in place of residence, in the form prescribed by the regulations, and shall set out, in addition to the information required in subsection (1), a proposal as to how contact could be exercised in light of the change and any other information prescribed by the regulations.

• Marginal note:Exception

  (3) Despite subsections (1) and (2), the court may, on application, order that the requirements in those subsections, or in the regulations made for the purposes of those subsections, do not apply or modify them, if the court is of the opinion that it is appropriate to do so, including where there is a risk of family violence.

• Marginal note:Application without notice

  (4) An application referred to in subsection (3) may be made without notice to any other party.

Variation, Rescission or Suspension of Orders

Marginal note:Variation order

• 17 (1) A court of competent jurisdiction may make an order varying, rescinding or suspending, retroactively or prospectively,

  • (a) a support order or any provision of one, on application by either or both former spouses;

  • (b) a parenting order or any provision of one, on application by

    • (i) either or both former spouses, or

    • (ii) a person, other than a former spouse, who is a parent of the child, stands in the place of a parent or intends to stand in the place of a parent; or

  • (c) a contact order or any provision of one, on application by a person to whom the order relates.

• Marginal note:Leave of the court

  (2) A person to whom the parenting order in question does not relate may make an application under subparagraph (1)(b)(ii) only with leave of the court.

• Marginal note:Variation of parenting order

  (2.1) If the court makes a variation order in respect of a contact order, it may make an order varying the parenting order to take into account that variation order, and subsections (3) and (11) apply as a consequence with any necessary modifications.

• Marginal note:Variation of contact order

  (2.2) If the court makes a variation order in respect of a parenting order, it may make an order varying any contact order to take into account that variation order, and subsections (3) and (11) apply as a consequence with any necessary modifications.

• Marginal note:Conditions of order

  (3) The court may include in a variation order any provision that under this Act could have been included in the order in respect of which the variation order is sought, and the court has the same powers and obligations that it would have when making that order.

• Marginal note:Factors for child support order

  (4) Before the court makes a variation order in respect of a child support order, the court shall satisfy itself that a change of circumstances as provided for in the applicable guidelines has occurred since the making of the child support order or the last variation order made in respect of that order.

• Marginal note:Factors for spousal support order

  (4.1) Before the court makes a variation order in respect of a spousal support order, the court shall satisfy itself that a change in the condition, means, needs or other circumstances of either former spouse has occurred since the making of the spousal support order or the last variation order made in respect of that order, and, in making the variation order, the court shall take that change into consideration.

• Marginal note:Factors for parenting order or contact order

  (5) Before the court makes a variation order in respect of a parenting order or contact order, the court shall satisfy itself that there has been a change in the circumstances of the child since the making of the order or the last variation order made in respect of the order, or of an order made under subsection 16.5(9).

• Marginal note:Variation order

  (5.1) For the purposes of subsection (5), a former spouse’s terminal illness or critical condition shall be considered a change in the circumstances of the child, and the court shall make a variation order in respect of a parenting order with regard to the allocation of parenting time.

• Marginal note:Relocation — change in circumstances

  (5.2) The relocation of a child is deemed to constitute a change in the circumstances of the child for the purposes of subsection (5).

• Marginal note:Relocation prohibited — no change in circumstances

  (5.3) A relocation of a child that has been prohibited by a court under paragraph (1)(b) or section 16.1 does not, in itself, constitute a change in the circumstances of the child for the purposes of subsection (5).

• Marginal note:Conduct

  (6) In making a variation order, the court shall not take into consideration any conduct that under this Act could not have been considered in making the order in respect of which the variation order is sought.

• Marginal note:Guidelines apply

  (6.1) A court making a variation order in respect of a child support order shall do so in accordance with the applicable guidelines.

• Marginal note:Court may take agreement, etc., into account

  (6.2) Notwithstanding subsection (6.1), in making a variation order in respect of a child support order, a court may award an amount that is different from the amount that would be determined in accordance with the applicable guidelines if the court is satisfied

  • (a) that special provisions in an order, a judgment or a written agreement respecting the financial obligations of the spouses, or the division or transfer of their property, directly or indirectly benefit a child, or that special provisions have otherwise been made for the benefit of a child; and

  • (b) that the application of the applicable guidelines would result in an amount of child support that is inequitable given those special provisions.

• Marginal note:Reasons

  (6.3) Where the court awards, pursuant to subsection (6.2), an amount that is different from the amount that would be determined in accordance with the applicable guidelines, the court shall record its reasons for having done so.

• Marginal note:Consent orders

  (6.4) Notwithstanding subsection (6.1), a court may award an amount that is different from the amount that would be determined in accordance with the applicable guidelines on the consent of both spouses if it is satisfied that reasonable arrangements have been made for the support of the child to whom the order relates.

• Marginal note:Reasonable arrangements

  (6.5) For the purposes of subsection (6.4), in determining whether reasonable arrangements have been made for the support of a child, the court shall have regard to the applicable guidelines. However, the court shall not consider the arrangements to be unreasonable solely because the amount of support agreed to is not the same as the amount that would otherwise have been determined in accordance with the applicable guidelines.

• Marginal note:Priority to child support

  (6.6) Section 15.3 applies, with any necessary modifications, when a court is considering an application under paragraph (1)(a) in respect of a child support order and an application under that paragraph in respect of a spousal support order.

• Marginal note:Objectives of variation order varying spousal support order

  (7) A variation order varying a spousal support order should

  • (a) recognize any economic advantages or disadvantages to the former spouses arising from the marriage or its breakdown;

  • (b) apportion between the former spouses any financial consequences arising from the care of any child of the marriage over and above any obligation for the support of any child of the marriage;

  • (c) relieve any economic hardship of the former spouses arising from the breakdown of the marriage; and

  • (d) in so far as practicable, promote the economic self-sufficiency of each former spouse within a reasonable period of time.

• (8) [Repealed, 1997, c. 1, s. 5]

• (9) [Repealed, 2019, c. 16, s. 13]

• Marginal note:Limitation

  (10) Notwithstanding subsection (1), where a spousal support order provides for support for a definite period or until a specified event occurs, a court may not, on an application instituted after the expiration of that period or the occurrence of the event, make a variation order for the purpose of resuming that support unless the court is satisfied that

  • (a) a variation order is necessary to relieve economic hardship arising from a change described in subsection (4.1) that is related to the marriage; and

  • (b) the changed circumstances, had they existed at the time of the making of the spousal support order or the last variation order made in respect of that order, as the case may be, would likely have resulted in a different order.

• Marginal note:Copy of order

  (11) Where a court makes a variation order in respect of a support order, parenting order or contact order made by another court, it shall send a copy of the variation order, certified by a judge or officer of the court, to that other court.

17.1 [Repealed, 2019, c. 16, s. 14]

Proceedings Between Provinces and Between a Province and a Designated Jurisdiction To Obtain, Vary, Rescind or Suspend Support Orders or To Recognize Decisions of Designated Jurisdictions

Definitions

Marginal note:Definitions

18 The following definitions apply in this section and in sections 18.1 to 19.1.

competent authority

competent authority means a court that has the authority to make an order or another entity that has the authority to make a decision with respect to support under this Act. (autorité compétente)

designated authority

designated authority means a person or entity that is designated by a province to exercise the powers or perform the duties and functions set out in sections 18.1 to 19.1 within the province. (autorité désignée)

designated jurisdiction

designated jurisdiction means a jurisdiction outside Canada — whether a country or a political subdivision of a country — that is designated under an Act that relates to the reciprocal enforcement of orders relating to support, of the province in which either of the former spouses resides. (État désigné)

responsible authority

responsible authority means a person or entity that, in a designated jurisdiction, performs functions that are similar to those performed by the designated authority under subsection 19(4). (autorité responsable)

Inter-Jurisdictional Proceedings Between Provinces

Receipt and Sending of Applications

Marginal note:If former spouses reside in different provinces

• 18.1 (1) If the former spouses are resident in different provinces, either of them may, without notice to the other,

  • (a) commence a proceeding to obtain, vary, rescind or suspend, retroactively or prospectively, a support order; or

  • (b) request to have the amount of child support calculated or recalculated, if the provincial child support service in the province in which the other former spouse habitually resides provides such a service.

• Marginal note:Procedure

  (2) A proceeding referred to in paragraph (1)(a) shall be governed by this section, sections 18.2 and 18.3 and provincial law, with any necessary modifications, to the extent that the provincial law is not inconsistent with this Act.

• Marginal note:Application

  (3) For the purpose of subsection (1), a former spouse shall submit an application to the designated authority of the province in which they are resident.

• Marginal note:Sending application to respondent’s province

  (4) After reviewing the application and ensuring that it is complete, the designated authority referred to in subsection (3) shall send it to the designated authority of the province in which the applicant believes the respondent is habitually resident.

• Marginal note:Sending application to competent authority in respondent’s province

  (5) Subject to subsection (9), the designated authority that receives the application under subsection (4) shall send it to the competent authority in its province.

• Marginal note:Provincial child support service

  (6) If the competent authority is a provincial child support service, the amount of child support shall be calculated or recalculated in accordance with section 25.01 or 25.1, as the case may be.

• Marginal note:Service on respondent by court

  (7) If the competent authority is a court, it or any other person who is authorized to serve documents under the law of the province shall, on receipt of the application, serve the respondent with a copy of the application and a notice setting out the manner in which the respondent shall respond to the application and the respondent’s obligation to provide documents or information as required by the applicable law.

• Marginal note:Service not possible — returned application

  (8) If the court or authorized person was unable to serve the documents under subsection (7), they shall return the application to the designated authority referred to in subsection (5).

• Marginal note:Respondent resident in another province

  (9) If the designated authority knows that the respondent is habitually resident in another province, it shall send the application to the designated authority of that province.

• Marginal note:Respondent’s habitual residence unknown

  (10) If the habitual residence of the respondent is unknown, the designated authority shall return the application to the designated authority referred to in subsection (3).

• Marginal note:Applicant need not be served

  (11) Service of the notice and documents or information referred to in subsection (7) on the applicant is not required.

• Marginal note:Adjournment of proceeding

  (12) If the court requires further evidence, it shall adjourn the proceeding. Prior to adjourning, the court may make an interim order.

• Marginal note:Request for further evidence

  (13) If the court requires further evidence from the applicant, it shall request the designated authority of the province in which the court is located to communicate with the applicant or the designated authority in the province of the applicant in order to obtain the evidence.

• Marginal note:Dismissal of application

  (14) If the further evidence required under subsection (13) is not received by the court within 12 months after the day on which the court makes a request to the designated authority, the court may dismiss the application referred to in subsection (3) and terminate the interim order. The dismissal of the application does not preclude the applicant from making a new application.

• Marginal note:Order

  (15) The court may, on the basis of the evidence and the submissions of the former spouses, whether presented orally before the court or by affidavit or any means of telecommunication permitted by the rules regulating the practice and procedure in that court, make a support order or an order varying, rescinding or suspending a support order, retroactively or prospectively.

• Marginal note:Application of certain provisions

  (16) Subsections 15.1(3) to (8) and 15.2(3) to (6), section 15.3 and subsections 17(3) to (4.1), (6) to (7), (10) and (11) apply, with any necessary modifications, in respect of an order referred to in subsection (15).

• Marginal note:Broad interpretation of documents

  (17) For greater certainty, if a court receives a document under this section that is in a form that is different from that required by the rules regulating the practice and procedure in that court, or that contains terminology that is different from that used in this Act or the regulations, the court shall give a broad interpretation to the document for the purpose of giving effect to it.

Conversion of Applications

Marginal note:Application to court

• 18.2 (1) If an application is made to a court in a province under paragraph 17(1)(a) for a variation order in respect of a support order and the respondent habitually resides in a different province, the respondent may, within 40 days after being served with the application, request that the court convert the application into an application under subsection 18.1(3).

• Marginal note:Conversion and sending of application

  (2) Subject to subsection (3) and despite section 5, the court that receives the request shall direct that the application made under paragraph 17(1)(a), along with the evidence in support of it, be considered as an application under subsection 18.1(3), and shall send a copy of the application and of the evidence to the designated authority of the province in which the application was made.

• Marginal note:Exception

  (3) If the application under paragraph 17(1)(a) is accompanied by an application under paragraph 17(1)(b) for a variation order in respect of a parenting order, the court that receives the request shall issue the direction referred to in subsection (2) only if it considers it appropriate to do so in the circumstances.

• Marginal note:Application of certain provisions

  (4) Once the designated authority receives the copy of the application under subsection (2), subsections 18.1(2), (4), (5), (7) and (12) to (17) apply, with any necessary modifications, in respect of that application.

Marginal note:No action by respondent

• 18.3 (1) If an application is made to a court in a province under paragraph 17(1)(a) for a variation order in respect of a support order, the respondent habitually resides in a different province and the respondent does not file an answer to the application or request a conversion under subsection 18.2(1), the court to which the application was made

  • (a) shall hear and determine the application in accordance with section 17 in the respondent’s absence, if it is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to do so; or

  • (b) if it is not so satisfied, may direct, despite section 5, that the application, along with the evidence in support of it, be considered as an application under subsection 18.1(3), in which case it shall send a copy of the application and of the evidence to the designated authority of the province in which the application was made.

• Marginal note:Assignment of support order

  (2) Before the court hears and determines an application under paragraph (1)(a), the court shall take into consideration

  • (a) whether the support order has been assigned under subsection 20.1(1); and

  • (b) if the support order has been assigned, whether the order assignee received notice of the application and did not request a conversion under subsection 18.2(1).

• Marginal note:Application of certain provisions

  (3) If paragraph (1)(b) applies, then subsections 18.1(2), (4), (5), (7) and (12) to (17) apply, with any necessary modifications, in respect of the application.

Proceedings Between a Province and a Designated Jurisdiction

Receipt and Sending of Designated Jurisdictions’ Applications

Marginal note:If applicant resides in designated jurisdiction

• 19 (1) A former spouse who is resident in a designated jurisdiction may, without notice to the other former spouse,

  • (a) commence a proceeding to obtain, vary, rescind or suspend, retroactively or prospectively, a support order; or

  • (b) request to have the amount of child support calculated or recalculated, if the provincial child support service in the province in which the other former spouse habitually resides provides such a service.

• Marginal note:Procedure

  (2) A proceeding referred to in paragraph (1)(a) shall be governed by this section and provincial law, with any necessary modifications, to the extent that the provincial law is not inconsistent with this Act.

• Marginal note:Application

  (3) For the purposes of subsection (1), a former spouse shall submit, through the responsible authority in the designated jurisdiction, an application to the designated authority of the province in which the applicant believes the respondent is habitually resident.

• Marginal note:Sending application to competent authority in respondent’s province

  (4) After reviewing the application and ensuring that it is complete, the designated authority referred to in subsection (3) shall send it to the competent authority in its province.

• Marginal note:Provincial child support service

  (5) If the competent authority is a provincial child support service, the amount of child support shall be calculated or recalculated in accordance with section 25.01 or 25.1, as the case may be.

• Marginal note:Service on respondent by court

  (6) If the competent authority is a court, it or any other person who is authorized to serve documents under the law of the province shall, on receipt of the application, serve the respondent with a copy of the application and a notice setting out the manner in which the respondent shall respond to the application and the respondent’s obligation to provide documents or information as required by the applicable law.

• Marginal note:Service not possible — returned application

  (7) If the court or authorized person was unable to serve the documents under subsection (6), they shall return the application to the designated authority referred to in subsection (3).

• Marginal note:Return of application to responsible authority

  (8) The designated authority shall return the application to the responsible authority in the designated jurisdiction.

• Marginal note:Applicant need not be served

  (9) Service of the notice and documents or information referred to in subsection (6) on the applicant is not required.

• Marginal note:Adjournment of proceeding

  (10) If the court requires further evidence, it shall adjourn the proceeding. Prior to adjourning, the court may make an interim order.

• Marginal note:Request for further evidence

  (11) If the court requires further evidence from the applicant, it shall request the designated authority of the province in which the court is located to communicate with the applicant or the responsible authority in the designated jurisdiction in order to obtain the evidence.

• Marginal note:Dismissal of application

  (12) If the further evidence required under subsection (11) is not received by the court within 12 months after the day on which the court makes the request to the designated authority, the court may dismiss the application referred to in subsection (3) and terminate the interim order. The dismissal of the application does not preclude the applicant from making a new application.

• Marginal note:Order

  (13) The court may, on the basis of the evidence and the submissions of the former spouses, whether presented orally before the court or by affidavit or any means of telecommunication permitted by the rules regulating the practice and procedure in that court, make a support order or an order varying, rescinding or suspending a support order, retroactively or prospectively.

• Marginal note:Provisional order

  (14) For greater certainty, if an application under paragraph (1)(a) contains a provisional order that was made in the designated jurisdiction and does not have legal effect in Canada, the court may take the provisional order into consideration but is not bound by it.

• Marginal note:Application of certain provisions

  (15) Subsections 15.1(3) to (8) and 15.2(3) to (6), section 15.3 and subsections 17(3) to (4.1), (6) to (7), (10) and (11) apply, with any necessary modifications, in respect of an order referred to in subsection (13).

• Marginal note:Broad interpretation of documents

  (16) For greater certainty, if a court receives a document under this section that is in a form that is different from that required by the rules regulating the practice and procedure in that court, or that contains terminology that is different from that used in this Act or the regulations, the court shall give a broad interpretation to the document for the purpose of giving effect to it.

Recognition of Decisions of Designated Jurisdiction

Marginal note:Recognition of decision of designated jurisdiction varying support order

• 19.1 (1) A former spouse who is resident in a designated jurisdiction may, through the responsible authority in the designated jurisdiction, make an application to the designated authority of the province in which the respondent habitually resides for recognition and, if applicable, for enforcement, of a decision of the designated jurisdiction that has the effect of varying a support order.

• Marginal note:Registration and recognition

  (2) The decision of the designated jurisdiction shall be registered in accordance with the law of the province and that law, including the laws respecting reciprocal enforcement between the province and a jurisdiction outside Canada, applies in respect of the recognition of the decision.

• Marginal note:Enforcement

  (3) A decision that is recognized in accordance with the law of the province is deemed to be an order made under section 17, has legal effect throughout Canada and may be enforced in any manner provided for by the law of that province, including its laws respecting reciprocal enforcement between the province and a jurisdiction outside Canada.

Legal Effect, Enforcement, Compliance and Assignment

Definition of court

• 20 (1) In this section, court, in respect of a province, has the meaning assigned by subsection 2(1) and includes such other court having jurisdiction in the province as is designated by the Lieutenant Governor in Council of the province as a court for the purposes of this section.

• Marginal note:Legal effect of orders and decisions throughout Canada

  (2) An order made under this Act in respect of support, parenting time, decision-making responsibility or contact and a provincial child support service decision that calculates or recalculates the amount of child support under section 25.01 or 25.1 have legal effect throughout Canada.

• Marginal note:Enforcement

  (3) An order or decision that has legal effect throughout Canada under subsection (2) may be

  • (a) registered in any court in a province and enforced in like manner as an order of that court; or

  • (b) enforced in a province in any other manner provided for by the laws of that province, including its laws respecting reciprocal enforcement between the province and a jurisdiction outside Canada.

• Marginal note:Variation of orders

  (4) Notwithstanding subsection (3), a court may only vary an order that has legal effect throughout Canada pursuant to subsection (2) in accordance with this Act.

Marginal note:Assignment of order

• 20.1 (1) A support order may be assigned to

  • (a) any minister of the Crown for Canada designated by the Governor in Council;

  • (b) any minister of the Crown for a province, or any agency in a province, designated by the Lieutenant Governor in Council of the province;

  • (c) any member of the Legislative Assembly of Yukon, or any agency in Yukon, designated by the Commissioner of Yukon;

  • (d) any member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, or any agency in the Northwest Territories, designated by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories;

  • (e) any member of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, or any agency in Nunavut, designated by the Commissioner of Nunavut; or

  • (f) a public body referred to in Article 36 of the 2007 Convention, as defined in section 28.

• Marginal note:Rights

  (2) A minister, member or agency referred to in subsection (1) to whom an order is assigned is entitled to the payments due under the order, and has the same right to be notified of, and to participate in, proceedings under this Act to vary, rescind, suspend or enforce the order as the person who would otherwise be entitled to the payments.

• Marginal note:Rights — public body

  (3) A public body referred to in paragraph (1)(f) to whom a decision of a State Party that has the effect of varying a child support order has been assigned is entitled to the payments due under the decision, and has the same right to participate in proceedings under this Act, to recognize and enforce the decision or if the recognition of this decision is not possible, to obtain a variation order, as the person who would otherwise be entitled to the payments.

• Marginal note:Definition of State Party

  (4) For the purpose of subsection (3), State Party has the same meaning as in section 28.

Appeals

Marginal note:Appeal to appellate court

• 21 (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), an appeal lies to the appellate court from any judgment or order, whether final or interim, rendered or made by a court under this Act.

• Marginal note:Restriction on divorce appeals

  (2) No appeal lies from a judgment granting a divorce on or after the day on which the divorce takes effect.

• Marginal note:Restriction on order appeals

  (3) No appeal lies from an order made under this Act more than thirty days after the day on which the order was made.

• Marginal note:Extension

  (4) An appellate court or a judge thereof may, on special grounds, either before or after the expiration of the time fixed by subsection (3) for instituting an appeal, by order extend that time.

• Marginal note:Powers of appellate court

  (5) The appellate court may

  • (a) dismiss the appeal; or

  • (b) allow the appeal and

    • (i) render the judgment or make the order that ought to have been rendered or made, including such order or such further or other order as it deems just, or

    • (ii) order a new hearing where it deems it necessary to do so to correct a substantial wrong or miscarriage of justice.

• Marginal note:Procedure on appeals

  (6) Except as otherwise provided by this Act or the rules or regulations, an appeal under this section shall be asserted, heard and decided according to the ordinary procedure governing appeals to the appellate court from the court rendering the judgment or making the order being appealed.

General

• 21.1 (1) [Repealed, 2019, c. 16, s. 17]

• Marginal note:Affidavit re removal of barriers to religious remarriage

  (2) In any proceedings under this Act, a spouse (in this section referred to as the “deponent”) may serve on the other spouse and file with the court an affidavit indicating

  • (a) that the other spouse is the spouse of the deponent;

  • (b) the date and place of the marriage, and the official character of the person who solemnized the marriage;

  • (c) the nature of any barriers to the remarriage of the deponent within the deponent’s religion the removal of which is within the other spouse’s control;

  • (d) where there are any barriers to the remarriage of the other spouse within the other spouse’s religion the removal of which is within the deponent’s control, that the deponent

    • (i) has removed those barriers, and the date and circumstances of that removal, or

    • (ii) has signified a willingness to remove those barriers, and the date and circumstances of that signification;

  • (e) that the deponent has, in writing, requested the other spouse to remove all of the barriers to the remarriage of the deponent within the deponent’s religion the removal of which is within the other spouse’s control;

  • (f) the date of the request described in paragraph (e); and

  • (g) that the other spouse, despite the request described in paragraph (e), has failed to remove all of the barriers referred to in that paragraph.

• Marginal note:Powers of court where barriers not removed

  (3) Where a spouse who has been served with an affidavit under subsection (2) does not

  • (a) within fifteen days after that affidavit is filed with the court or within such longer period as the court allows, serve on the deponent and file with the court an affidavit indicating that all of the barriers referred to in paragraph (2)(e) have been removed, and

  • (b) satisfy the court, in any additional manner that the court may require, that all of the barriers referred to in paragraph (2)(e) have been removed,

  the court may, subject to any terms that the court considers appropriate,

  • (c) dismiss any application filed by that spouse under this Act, and

  • (d) strike out any other pleadings and affidavits filed by that spouse under this Act.

• Marginal note:Special case

  (4) Without limiting the generality of the court’s discretion under subsection (3), the court may refuse to exercise its powers under paragraphs (3)(c) and (d) where a spouse who has been served with an affidavit under subsection (2)

  • (a) within fifteen days after that affidavit is filed with the court or within such longer period as the court allows, serves on the deponent and files with the court an affidavit indicating genuine grounds of a religious or conscientious nature for refusing to remove the barriers referred to in paragraph (2)(e); and

  • (b) satisfies the court, in any additional manner that the court may require, that the spouse has genuine grounds of a religious or conscientious nature for refusing to remove the barriers referred to in paragraph (2)(e).

• Marginal note:Affidavits

  (5) For the purposes of this section, an affidavit filed with the court by a spouse must, in order to be valid, indicate the date on which it was served on the other spouse.

• Marginal note:Where section does not apply

  (6) This section does not apply where the power to remove the barrier to religious remarriage lies with a religious body or official.

Marginal note:Recognition of foreign divorce

• 22 (1) A divorce granted, on or after the coming into force of this Act, by a competent authority shall be recognized for the purpose of determining the marital status in Canada of any person, if either former spouse was habitually resident in the country or subdivision of the competent authority for at least one year immediately preceding the commencement of proceedings for the divorce.

• Marginal note:Recognition of foreign divorce

  (2) A divorce granted after July 1, 1968 by a competent authority, on the basis of the domicile of the wife in the country or subdivision of the competent authority, determined as if she were unmarried and, if she was a minor, as if she had attained the age of majority, shall be recognized for the purpose of determining the marital status in Canada of any person.

• Marginal note:Other recognition rules preserved

  (3) Nothing in this section abrogates or derogates from any other rule of law respecting the recognition of divorces granted otherwise than under this Act.

Marginal note:Recognition of foreign order that varies parenting or contact order

• 22.1 (1) On application by an interested person, a court in a province that has a sufficient connection with the matter shall recognize a decision made by a competent authority that has the effect of varying, rescinding or suspending a parenting order or contact order, unless

  • (a) the child concerned is not habitually resident in the country other than Canada in which the competent authority is located or that competent authority of that other country would not have had jurisdiction if it applied substantially equivalent rules related to the jurisdiction as those that are set out in section 6.3;

  • (b) the decision was made, except in an urgent case, without the child having been provided with the opportunity to be heard, in violation of fundamental principles of procedure of the province;

  • (c) a person claims that the decision negatively affects the exercise of their parenting time or decision-making responsibility or contact under a contact order, and the decision was made, except in an urgent case, without the person having been given an opportunity to be heard;

  • (d) recognition of the decision would be manifestly contrary to public policy, taking into consideration the best interests of the child; or

  • (e) the decision is incompatible with a later decision that fulfils the requirements for recognition under this section.

• Marginal note:Effect of recognition

  (2) The court’s decision recognizing the competent authority’s decision is deemed to be an order made under section 17 and has legal effect throughout Canada.

• Marginal note:Effect of non-recognition

  (3) The court’s decision refusing to recognize the competent authority’s decision has legal effect throughout Canada.

Marginal note:Provincial laws of evidence

• 23 (1) Subject to this or any other Act of Parliament, the laws of evidence of the province in which any proceedings under this Act are taken, including the laws of proof of service of any document, apply to such proceedings.

• Marginal note:Canada Evidence Act

  (2) The Canada Evidence Act applies in respect of a proceeding before the Federal Court to determine, under subsection 3(3), 4(3), 5(3) or 6.2(3), which court retains jurisdiction.

Marginal note:Means of presenting submissions

23.1 If the parties to a proceeding are habitually resident in different provinces, a court of competent jurisdiction may, in accordance with any applicable rules regulating the practice and procedure in that court, make an order on the basis of the evidence and the submissions of the parties, whether presented orally before the court or by affidavit or any means of telecommunication permitted by the rules regulating the practice and procedure in that court.

Marginal note:Official languages

• 23.2 (1) A proceeding under this Act may be conducted in English or French, or in both official languages of Canada.

• Marginal note:Language rights

  (2) In any proceeding under this Act,

  • (a) any person has the right to use either official language, including to

    • (i) file pleadings or other documents,

    • (ii) give evidence, or

    • (iii) make submissions;

  • (b) the court shall, at the request of any person, provide simultaneous interpretation from one official language into the other;

  • (c) any party to that proceeding has the right to a judge who speaks the same official language as that party or both official languages, as the case may be;

  • (d) any party to that proceeding has the right to request a transcript or recording, as the case may be, of

    • (i) what was said during that proceeding in the official language in which it was said, if what was said was taken down by a stenographer or a sound recording apparatus, and

    • (ii) any interpretation into the other official language of what was said; and

  • (e) the court shall, at the request of any party to that proceeding, make available in that party’s official language of choice any judgment or order that is rendered or made under this Act and that relates to that party.

• Marginal note:Original version prevails

  (3) In the case of a discrepancy between the original version of a document referred to in paragraph (2)(a) or (e) and the translated text, the original version shall prevail.

• Marginal note:Court forms

  (4) The court forms relating to any proceedings under this Act shall be made available in both official languages.

Marginal note:Proof of signature or office

24 A document offered in a proceeding under this Act that purports to be certified or sworn by a judge or an officer of a court shall, unless the contrary is proved, be proof of the appointment, signature or authority of the judge or officer and, in the case of a document purporting to be sworn, of the appointment, signature or authority of the person before whom the document purports to be sworn.

Definition of competent authority

• 25 (1) In this section, competent authority, in respect of a court, or appellate court, in a province means the body, person or group of persons ordinarily competent under the laws of that province to make rules regulating the practice and procedure in that court.

• Marginal note:Rules

  (2) Subject to subsection (3), the competent authority may make rules applicable to any proceedings under this Act in a court, or appellate court, in a province, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, rules

  • (a) regulating the practice and procedure in the court, including the addition of persons as parties to the proceedings;

  • (b) respecting the conduct and disposition of any proceedings under this Act without an oral hearing;

  • (b.1) respecting the application of section 23.1;

  • (c) regulating the sittings of the court;

  • (d) respecting the fixing and awarding of costs;

  • (e) prescribing and regulating the duties of officers of the court;

  • (f) respecting the transfer of proceedings under this Act to or from the court; and

  • (g) prescribing and regulating any other matter considered expedient to attain the ends of justice and carry into effect the purposes and provisions of this Act.

• Marginal note:Exercise of power

  (3) The power to make rules for a court or appellate court conferred by subsection (2) on a competent authority shall be exercised in the like manner and subject to the like terms and conditions, if any, as the power to make rules for that court conferred on that authority by the laws of the province.

• Marginal note:Not statutory instruments

  (4) Rules made pursuant to this section by a competent authority that is not a judicial or quasi-judicial body shall be deemed not to be statutory instruments within the meaning and for the purposes of the Statutory Instruments Act.

Marginal note:Provincial child support service — calculation of child support

• 25.01 (1) With the approval of the Governor in Council, the Minister of Justice may, on behalf of the Government of Canada, enter into an agreement with a province authorizing a provincial child support service designated in the agreement to calculate the amount of child support in accordance with the applicable guidelines and set it out in a decision.

• Marginal note:Application of law of province

  (2) To the extent that it is not inconsistent with this section, the law of the province applies to a provincial child support service in the performance of its functions under this section.

• Marginal note:Effect of calculation by provincial child support service

  (3) The amount of child support calculated under this section is the amount payable by the spouse who is subject to a provincial child support service decision.

• Marginal note:Liability

  (4) A spouse who is subject to a provincial child support service decision becomes liable to pay the amount of child support calculated under this section on the day, or on the expiry of a period, specified by the law of the province or, if no day or period is specified, on the expiry of the period prescribed by the regulations.

• Marginal note:Disagreement with respect to amount

  (5) Either or both spouses who do not agree with the amount of the child support calculated under this section may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for an order under section 15.1 before the day or within the period specified by the law of the province or, if no day or period is specified, within the period prescribed by the regulations.

• Marginal note:Effect of application

  (6) The liability to pay the amount of child support under subsection (4) continues while the determination of the application under subsection (5) is pending.

• Marginal note:Recalculation of amount or application for order

  (7) After a spouse subject to a provincial child support service decision becomes liable to pay an amount of child support under subsection (4), either or both spouses may have the amount of child support recalculated under section 25.1 or apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for an order under section 15.1.

Marginal note:Provincial child support service — recalculation of child support

• 25.1 (1) With the approval of the Governor in Council, the Minister of Justice may, on behalf of the Government of Canada, enter into an agreement with a province authorizing a provincial child support service designated in the agreement to recalculate, in accordance with the applicable guidelines, the amount of child support orders on the basis of updated income information.

• Marginal note:Application of law of province

  (1.1) To the extent that it is not inconsistent with this section, the law of the province applies to a provincial child support service in the performance of its functions under this section.

• Marginal note:Deeming of income

  (1.2) For the purposes of subsection (1), if a spouse does not provide the income information, a provincial child support service may deem the income of that spouse to be the amount determined in accordance with the method of calculation set out in the law of the province or, if no such method is specified, in accordance with the method prescribed by the regulations.

• Marginal note:Effect of recalculation

  (2) Subject to subsection (5), the amount of a child support order as recalculated pursuant to this section shall for all purposes be deemed to be the amount payable under the child support order.

• Marginal note:Effect of deeming of income

  (2.1) Subject to subsection (5), the income determined under subsection (1.2) shall be deemed to be the spouse’s income for the purposes of the child support order.

• Marginal note:Liability

  (3) The spouse against whom a child support order was made becomes liable to pay the recalculated amount on the day, or on the expiry of the period specified by the law of the province or, if no day or period is specified, on the expiry of the period prescribed by the regulations.

• Marginal note:Disagreement with recalculation

  (4) If either or both spouses do not agree with the recalculated amount of the child support order, either or both of them may, before the day or within the period specified by the law of the province or, if no day or period is specified, within the period prescribed by the regulations, apply to a court of competent jurisdiction

  • (a) in the case of an interim order made under subsection 15.1(2), for an order under section 15.1;

  • (b) in the case of a provincial child support service decision made under section 25.01, for an order under section 15.1; or

  • (c) in any other case, if they are former spouses, for an order under paragraph 17(1)(a).

• Marginal note:Effect of application

  (5) Where an application is made under subsection (4), the operation of subsection (3) is suspended pending the determination of the application, and the child support order continues in effect.

• Marginal note:Withdrawal of application

  (6) If an application made under subsection (4) is withdrawn before it is determined, the spouse against whom the child support order was made becomes liable to pay the recalculated amount on the day on which the spouse would have become liable had the application not been made.

• Marginal note:Definition of child support order

  (7) In this section, child support order has the same meaning as in subsection 2(1) and also means an interim order made under subsection 15.1(2), a provincial child support service decision made under section 25.01 and a variation order made under paragraph 17(1)(a).

Marginal note:Ministerial activities

25.2 The Minister of Justice may conduct activities related to matters governed by this Act, including undertaking research.

Marginal note:Regulations

• 26 (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations for carrying the purposes and provisions of this Act into effect and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, may make regulations

  • (a) respecting the establishment, mandate and operation of a central registry of divorce proceedings;

  • (b) providing for uniformity in the rules made under section 25;

  • (c) respecting the framework for the calculation or recalculation of the amount of child support by the provincial child support service under section 25.01 or 25.1; and

  • (d) prescribing any matter or thing that by this Act is to be or may be prescribed.

• Marginal note:Regulations prevail

  (2) Regulations made under paragraph (1)(b) prevail over rules made under section 25.

Marginal note:Guidelines

• 26.1 (1) The Governor in Council may establish guidelines respecting orders for child support, including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, guidelines

  • (a) respecting the way in which the amount of an order for child support is to be determined;

  • (b) respecting the circumstances in which discretion may be exercised in the making of an order for child support;

  • (c) authorizing a court to require that the amount payable under an order for child support be paid in periodic payments, in a lump sum or in a lump sum and periodic payments;

  • (d) authorizing a court to require that the amount payable under an order for child support be paid or secured, or paid and secured, in the manner specified in the order;

  • (e) respecting the circumstances that give rise to the making of a variation order in respect of a child support order;

  • (f) respecting the determination of income for the purposes of the application of the guidelines;

  • (g) authorizing a court to impute income for the purposes of the application of the guidelines; and

  • (h) respecting the production of information relevant to an order for child support and providing for sanctions and other consequences when that information is not provided.

• Marginal note:Principle

  (2) The guidelines shall be based on the principle that spouses have a joint financial obligation to maintain the children of the marriage in accordance with their relative abilities to contribute to the performance of that obligation.

• Definition of order for child support

  (3) In subsection (1), order for child support means

  • (a) an order or interim order made under section 15.1;

  • (b) a variation order in respect of a child support order;

  • (c) an order made under subsection 18.1(15) or 19(13) in respect of a child support order; or

  • (d) an order made under subsection 28.5(5) or 29.1(5).

Marginal note:Fees

• 27 (1) The Governor in Council may, by order, authorize the Minister of Justice to prescribe a fee to be paid by any person to whom a service is provided under this Act or the regulations.

• Marginal note:Agreements

  (2) The Minister of Justice may, with the approval of the Governor in Council, enter into an agreement with the government of any province respecting the collection and remittance of any fees prescribed pursuant to subsection (1).

International Conventions

Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance

Definitions

Marginal note:Definitions

28 The following definitions apply in this section and in sections 28.1 to 29.5.

2007 Convention

2007 Convention means the Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance, concluded at The Hague on November 23, 2007, set out in the schedule. (Convention de 2007)

Central Authority

Central Authority means any person or entity designated under Article 4 of the 2007 Convention that is responsible for carrying out the duties that are imposed on it by the 2007 Convention. (autorité centrale)

competent authority

competent authority means a court that has the authority to make an order, or another entity that has the authority to make a decision, with respect to support under this Act. (autorité compétente)

creditor

creditor means a former spouse to whom support is owed or who seeks to obtain support. (créancier)

debtor

debtor means a former spouse who owes support or from whom support is sought. (débiteur)

State Party

State Party means a State other than Canada in which the 2007 Convention applies. (État partie)

Implementation, Interpretation and Application of the 2007 Convention

Marginal note:Force of law

• 28.1 (1) The provisions of the 2007 Convention have the force of law in Canada in so far as they relate to subjects that fall within the legislative competence of Parliament.

• Marginal note:Inconsistency

  (2) The 2007 Convention prevails over this Act and any other federal law to the extent of any inconsistency between them.

Marginal note:Explanatory Report

28.2 In interpreting the 2007 Convention, recourse may be had to the Explanatory Report on the Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance, adopted by the Twenty-First Session of the Hague Conference on Private International Law held from November 5 to 23, 2007.

Marginal note:Application

28.3 Sections 28.4 to 29.5 apply if either the creditor or the debtor, as the case may be, resides in a State Party and the other resides in a province in respect of which Canada has made a declaration extending the application of the 2007 Convention to that province. However, the application of those provisions does not exclude the application of the other provisions of this Act unless there is an indication to the contrary.

Application of Creditor to Central Authority

Marginal note:Recognition of State Party decision varying child support order

• 28.4 (1) A creditor may, through the Central Authority designated by the State Party in which the creditor resides, submit to the Central Authority in the province in which the debtor is habitually resident an application for recognition and, if applicable, for enforcement of a decision of the State Party that has the effect of varying a child support order.

• Marginal note:Spousal support order

  (2) A creditor may also in the same manner submit an application for recognition and, if applicable, for enforcement of a decision of the State Party that has the effect of varying a spousal support order if the application is also for recognition and, if applicable, for enforcement of a decision of the State Party that has the effect of varying a child support order.

• Marginal note:Registration and recognition

  (3) The decision of the State Party is registered in accordance with the law of the province and that law, including the laws respecting reciprocal enforcement between the province and a jurisdiction outside Canada, applies in respect of the recognition of the decision.

• Marginal note:Enforcement

  (4) A decision that is recognized in accordance with the law of the province is deemed to be an order made under section 17, has legal effect throughout Canada and may be enforced in any manner provided for by the law of that province, including its laws respecting reciprocal enforcement between the province and a jurisdiction outside Canada.

Marginal note:Establishment or variation of child support order or calculation or recalculation of amount

• 28.5 (1) A creditor may, through the Central Authority designated by the State Party in which the creditor resides, submit to the Central Authority in the province in which the debtor is habitually resident an application to be sent to the competent authority in the province.

• Marginal note:Types of applications

  (2) An application may seek

  • (a) to obtain or to vary a child support order; or

  • (b) to have the amount of child support calculated or recalculated, if the provincial child support service in the province in which the debtor habitually resides provides such a service.

• Marginal note:Sending of application

  (3) The Central Authority shall, in accordance with the law of the province, send the application to the competent authority of that province.

• Marginal note:Application of section 19

  (4) Subsections 19(5) to (12) and (16) apply with necessary modifications to the application except that a reference to a “respondent” shall be read as “debtor”, a reference to “designated authority” shall be read as “Central Authority in the province in which the debtor is habitually resident”, a reference to “responsible authority in the designated jurisdiction” shall be read as “Central Authority designated by the State Party in which the creditor resides” and “applicant” shall be read as “creditor”.

• Marginal note:Order

  (5) The court referred to in subsection 19(6) may, on the basis of the evidence and the submissions of the creditor and of the debtor, whether presented orally before the court or by affidavit or any means of telecommunication permitted by the rules regulating the practice and procedure in that court, make a child support order or an order varying a child support order, retroactively or prospectively.

• Marginal note:Application of certain provisions

  (6) Subsections 15.1(3) to (8), section 15.3 and subsections 17(3), (4), (6) to (6.5) and (11) apply, with any necessary modifications, in respect of an order referred to in subsection (5).

• Marginal note:Exception

  (7) Subsections (1) to (6) apply despite sections 4 and 5.

Application of Debtor to Central Authority

Marginal note:Recognition of State Party decision suspending or limiting enforcement of child support order

• 29 (1) A debtor may, through the Central Authority designated by the State Party in which the debtor resides, submit to the Central Authority in the province in which the creditor is habitually resident an application for recognition of a decision of a State Party that has the effect of suspending or limiting the enforcement of a child support order.

• Marginal note:Spousal support order

  (2) A debtor may also in the same manner submit an application for recognition of a decision of a State Party that has the effect of suspending or limiting the enforcement of a spousal support order, if the application is also for recognition of a decision of the State Party that has the effect of suspending or limiting the enforcement of a child support order.

• Marginal note:Registration and recognition

  (3) The decision of the State Party shall be registered in accordance with the law of the province and that law, including the laws respecting reciprocal enforcement between the province and a jurisdiction outside Canada, apply in respect of the recognition of the decision.

• Marginal note:Enforcement

  (4) A decision that is recognized in accordance with the law of the province is deemed to be an order made under section 17, has legal effect throughout Canada and may be enforced in any manner provided for by the law of that province, including its laws respecting reciprocal enforcement between the province and a jurisdiction outside Canada.

Marginal note:Variation of child support order or recalculation of amount

• 29.1 (1) A debtor may, through the Central Authority designated by the State Party in which the debtor resides, submit to the Central Authority in the province in which the creditor is habitually resident an application to be sent to the competent authority in the province.

• Marginal note:Types of applications

  (2) An application may seek

  • (a) to vary a child support order; or

  • (b) to have the amount of child support recalculated, if the provincial child support service in the province in which the creditor habitually resides provides such a service.

• Marginal note:Sending of application

  (3) The Central Authority shall, in accordance with the law of the province, send the application to the competent authority of that province.

• Marginal note:Application of section 19

  (4) Subsections 19(5) to (12) and (16) apply with necessary modifications to the application except that a reference to a “respondent” shall be read as “creditor”, a reference to “designated authority” shall be read as “Central Authority in the province in which the creditor is habitually resident”, a reference to “responsible authority in the designated jurisdiction” shall be read as “Central Authority designated by the State Party in which the debtor resides” and “applicant” shall be read as “debtor”.

• Marginal note:Order

  (5) The court referred to in subsection 19(6) may, on the basis of the evidence and the submissions of the creditor and of the debtor, whether presented orally before the court or by affidavit or any means of telecommunication permitted by the rules regulating the practice and procedure in that court, make an order varying a child support order, retroactively or prospectively.

• Marginal note:Application of certain provisions

  (6) Subsections 17(3), (4), (6) to (6.5) and (11) apply, with any necessary modifications, in respect of an order referred to in subsection (5).

• Marginal note:Exception

  (7) Subsections (1) to (6) apply despite section 5.

Spousal Support Orders

Marginal note:Declaration in respect of a province

29.2 If Canada declares under Article 2 of the 2007 Convention that the application of Chapters II and III of that Convention is to extend, in respect of a province, to spousal support orders, the applications described in sections 28.4 to 29.1 of this Act may also be made in respect of those orders and in that case those sections apply with any necessary modifications.

Application of Creditor to Court

Marginal note:Recognition of State Party decision varying support order

• 29.3 (1) A creditor may submit to a court in the province in which the debtor is habitually resident an application for recognition — and, if applicable, for enforcement — of a decision of a State Party that has the effect of varying a support order.

• Marginal note:Registration and recognition

  (2) The decision of the State Party shall be registered in accordance with the law of the province and that law, including the laws respecting reciprocal enforcement between the province and a jurisdiction outside Canada, applies in respect of the recognition of the decision.

• Marginal note:Enforcement

  (3) A decision that is recognized in accordance with the law of the province is deemed to be an order made under section 17, has legal effect throughout Canada and may be enforced in any manner provided for by the law of that province, including its laws respecting reciprocal enforcement between the province and a jurisdiction outside Canada.

Application of Debtor to Court

Marginal note:Recognition of State Party decision suspending or limiting enforcement of support order

• 29.4 (1) A debtor may submit to a court in the province in which the creditor is habitually resident an application for recognition of a decision of a State Party that has the effect of suspending or limiting the enforcement of a support order.

• Marginal note:Registration and recognition

  (2) The decision of the State Party shall be registered in accordance with the law of the province and that law, including the laws respecting reciprocal enforcement between the province and a jurisdiction outside Canada, applies in respect of the recognition of the decision.

• Marginal note:Enforcement

  (3) A decision that is recognized in accordance with the law of the province is deemed to be an order made under section 17, has legal effect throughout Canada and may be enforced in any manner provided for by the law of that province, including its laws respecting reciprocal enforcement between the province and a jurisdiction outside Canada.

Limits on Divorce Proceedings

Marginal note:Support decision obtained in State Party

• 29.5 (1) If a divorce proceeding is commenced in the province in which the debtor is habitually resident, the court of competent jurisdiction is not authorized to make an order under section 15.1 if the creditor has, in the State Party in which the creditor habitually resides, obtained a decision that requires the debtor to pay for the support of any or all of the children of the marriage.

• Marginal note:Exceptions

  (2) Subsection (1) does not apply if

  • (a) the creditor accepts the jurisdiction of the court, either expressly or by defending on the merits of the case without objecting to the jurisdiction at the first available opportunity;

  • (b) the decision-making authority that made the decision in the State Party has no jurisdiction to vary the decision or make a new one or refuses to exercise its jurisdiction to do so; or

  • (c) the decision cannot be recognized or declared enforceable in the province in which the debtor is habitually resident.

30 and 31 [Repealed, 1997, c. 1, s. 12]

Transitional Provisions

Marginal note:Proceedings based on facts arising before commencement of Act

32 Proceedings may be commenced under this Act notwithstanding that the material facts or circumstances giving rise to the proceedings or to jurisdiction over the proceedings occurred wholly or partly before the day on which this Act comes into force.

Divorce Act, R.S. 1970, c. D-8

33 [Repealed, 2019, c. 16, s. 32]

Marginal note:Variation and enforcement of orders previously made

• 34 (1) Subject to subsection (1.1), any order made under subsection 11(1) of the Divorce Act, chapter D-8 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1970, and any order to the like effect made corollary to a decree of divorce granted in Canada before July 2, 1968 or granted on or after that day under subsection 22(2) of that Act may be varied, rescinded, suspended or enforced in accordance with sections 17 to 20, other than subsection 17(10), of this Act as if

  • (a) the order were a support order, parenting order or contact order, as the case may be; and

  • (b) in subsections 17(4), (4.1) and (5), the words “or the last order made under subsection 11(2) of the Divorce Act, chapter D-8 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1970, varying that order” were added immediately before the words “or the last variation order made in respect of that order”.

• Marginal note:Combined orders

  (1.1) Where an application is made under subsection 17(1) to vary an order referred to in subsection (1) that provides a single amount of money for the combined support of one or more children and a former spouse, the court shall rescind the order and treat the application as an application for a child support order and an application for a spousal support order.

• Marginal note:Enforcement of interim orders

  (2) Any order made under section 10 of the Divorce Act, chapter D-8 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1970, may be enforced in accordance with section 20 of this Act as if it were an order made under subsection 15.1(1) or 15.2(1) or section 16.1 or 16.5 of this Act, as the case may be.

• Marginal note:Assignment of orders previously made

  (3) Any order for the maintenance of a spouse, former spouse or child of the marriage made under section 10 or 11 of the Divorce Act, chapter D-8 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1970, and any order to the like effect made corollary to a decree of divorce granted in Canada before July 2, 1968 or granted on or after that day under subsection 22(2) of that Act may be assigned to any minister, member or agency designated under section 20.1.

Marginal note:Procedural laws continued

35 The rules and regulations made under the Divorce Act, chapter D-8 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1970, and the provisions of any other law or of any rule, regulation or other instrument made thereunder respecting any matter in relation to which rules may be made under subsection 25(2) that were in force in Canada or any province immediately before the day on which this Act comes into force and that are not inconsistent with this Act continue in force as though made or enacted by or under this Act until they are repealed or altered by rules or regulations made under this Act or are, by virtue of the making of rules or regulations under this Act, rendered inconsistent with those rules or regulations.

Divorce Act, R.S. 1985, c. 3 (2nd Supp.)

Marginal note:Variation and enforcement of support orders previously made

• 35.1 (1) Subject to subsection (2), any support order made under this Act before the coming into force of this section may be varied, rescinded, suspended or enforced in accordance with sections 17 to 20 as if the support order were a child support order or a spousal support order, as the case may be.

• Marginal note:Combined orders

  (2) Where an application is made under subsection 17(1) to vary a support order made under this Act before the coming into force of this section that provides for the combined support of one or more children and a former spouse, the court shall rescind the order and treat the application as an application for a child support order and an application for a spousal support order.

• Marginal note:Assignment of orders previously made

  (3) Any support order made under this Act before the coming into force of this section may be assigned to any minister, member or agency designated pursuant to section 20.1.

Marginal note:Agreements entered into under subsection 25.1(1)

35.2 Any agreement entered into by the Minister of Justice under subsection 25.1(1), as that subsection read immediately before the day on which section 27 of An Act to amend the Divorce Act, the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act and the Garnishment, Attachment and Pension Diversion Act and to make consequential amendments to another Act comes into force, and that continues to be in force on that day, is deemed to have been entered into under subsection 25.1(1), as that subsection read on that day.

Marginal note:Proceedings commenced before coming into force

35.3 A proceeding commenced under this Act before the day on which this section comes into force and not finally disposed of before that day shall be dealt with and disposed of in accordance with this Act as it reads as of that day.

Marginal note:Person deemed to have parenting time and decision-making responsibility

35.4 Unless a court orders otherwise,

• (a) a person who had custody of a child by virtue of a custody order made under this Act, immediately before the day on which this section comes into force, is deemed as of that day, to be a person to whom parenting time and decision-making responsibility have been allocated; and

• (b) a spouse or former spouse who had access to a child by virtue of a custody order made under this Act, immediately before the day on which this section comes into force, is deemed as of that date, to be a person to whom parenting time has been allocated.

Marginal note:Person deemed to have contact order

35.5 If, immediately before the day on which this section comes into force, a person who is not a spouse or former spouse had access to a child by virtue of a custody order made under this Act, then, as of that day, unless a court orders otherwise, that person is deemed to be a person who has contact with the child under a contact order.

Marginal note:No notice

35.6 A person who is deemed under section 35.4, to be a person to whom parenting time or decision-making responsibility has been allocated is not required to give notice under either section 16.8 or 16.9 if a custody order to which they are a party specifies that no notice is required in respect of a change in the place of residence by the person or a child to whom the order relates.

Marginal note:No change in circumstances

35.7 For the purposes of subsection 17(5), as enacted by subsection 13(2) of An Act to amend the Divorce Act, the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act and the Garnishment, Attachment and Pension Diversion Act and to make consequential amendments to another Act, the coming into force of that Act does not constitute a change in the circumstances of the child.

Marginal note:Variation of orders previously made

35.8 An order made before the day on which this section comes into force under subsection 16(1), as that subsection read immediately before that day, or an order made in proceedings disposed of by the court in the manner described in section 35.3, may, as of that day, if it is still in effect, be varied, rescinded or suspended in accordance with section 17, as amended by section 13 of An Act to amend the Divorce Act, the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act and the Garnishment, Attachment and Pension Diversion Act and to make consequential amendments to another Act, as if the order were a parenting order or contact order.

Marginal note:Provisional orders

35.9 If, before the day on which this section comes into force, a provisional order was made under subsection 18(2) as it read immediately before that day, the provisional order is deemed, as of that day, to be an application made under in subsection 18.1(3) and shall be dealt with and disposed of as such.

Commencement

Marginal note:Commencement

Footnote ^*36 This Act shall come into force on a day to be fixed by proclamation.

• Return to footnote ^*[Note: Act in force June 1, 1986, see SI/86-70.]

SCHEDULE(Section 28)Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance

Preamble

The States signatory to the present Convention,

Desiring to improve co-operation among States for the international recovery of child support and other forms of family maintenance,

Aware of the need for procedures which produce results and are accessible, prompt, efficient, cost-effective, responsive and fair,

Wishing to build upon the best features of existing Hague Conventions and other international instruments, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Recovery Abroad of Maintenance of 20 June 1956,

Seeking to take advantage of advances in technologies and to create a flexible system which can continue to evolve as needs change and further advances in technology create new opportunities,

Recalling that, in accordance with Articles 3 and 27 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child of 20 November 1989,

in all actions concerning children the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration,

every child has a right to a standard of living adequate for the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development,

the parent(s) or others responsible for the child have the primary responsibility to secure, within their abilities and financial capacities, the conditions of living necessary for the child’s development, and

States Parties should take all appropriate measures, including the conclusion of international agreements, to secure the recovery of maintenance for the child from the parent(s) or other responsible persons, in particular where such persons live in a State different from that of the child,

Have resolved to conclude this Convention and have agreed upon the following provisions

CHAPTER I
Object, Scope and Definitions

ARTICLE 1
Object

The object of the present Convention is to ensure the effective international recovery of child support and other forms of family maintenance, in particular by –

• a) establishing a comprehensive system of co-operation between the authorities of the Contracting States;

• b) making available applications for the establishment of maintenance decisions;

• c) providing for the recognition and enforcement of maintenance decisions; and

• d) requiring effective measures for the prompt enforcement of maintenance decisions.

ARTICLE 2
Scope

• 1 This Convention shall apply –

  • a) to maintenance obligations arising from a parent-child relationship towards a person under the age of 21 years;

  • b) to recognition and enforcement or enforcement of a decision for spousal support when the application is made with a claim within the scope of sub-paragraph a); and

  • c) with the exception of Chapters II and III, to spousal support.

• 2 Any Contracting State may reserve, in accordance with Article 62, the right to limit the application of the Convention under sub-paragraph 1 a), to persons who have not attained the age of 18 years. A Contracting State which makes this reservation shall not be entitled to claim the application of the Convention to persons of the age excluded by its reservation.

• 3 Any Contracting State may declare in accordance with Article 63 that it will extend the application of the whole or any part of the Convention to any maintenance obligation arising from a family relationship, parentage, marriage or affinity, including in particular obligations in respect of vulnerable persons. Any such declaration shall give rise to obligations between two Contracting States only in so far as their declarations cover the same maintenance obligations and parts of the Convention.

• 4 The provisions of this Convention shall apply to children regardless of the marital status of the parents.

ARTICLE 3
Definitions

For the purposes of this Convention –

• a) “creditor” means an individual to whom maintenance is owed or is alleged to be owed;

• b) “debtor” means an individual who owes or who is alleged to owe maintenance;

• c) “legal assistance” means the assistance necessary to enable applicants to know and assert their rights and to ensure that applications are fully and effectively dealt with in the requested State. The means of providing such assistance may include as necessary legal advice, assistance in bringing a case before an authority, legal representation and exemption from costs of proceedings;

• d) “agreement in writing” means an agreement recorded in any medium, the information contained in which is accessible so as to be usable for subsequent reference;

• e) “maintenance arrangement” means an agreement in writing relating to the payment of maintenance which

  • i) has been formally drawn up or registered as an authentic instrument by a competent authority, or

  • ii) has been formally drawn up or registered as an authentic instrument by a competent authority; or

  and may be the subject of review and modification by a competent authority;

• f) “vulnerable person” means a person who, by reason of an impairment or insufficiency of his or her personal faculties, is not able to support him or herself.

CHAPTER II
Administrative Co-operation

ARTICLE 4
Designation of Central Authorities

• 1 A Contracting State shall designate a Central Authority to discharge the duties that are imposed by the Convention on such an authority.

• 2 Federal States, States with more than one system of law or States having autonomous territorial units shall be free to appoint more than one Central Authority and shall specify the territorial or personal extent of their functions. Where a State has appointed more than one Central Authority, it shall designate the Central Authority to which any communication may be addressed for transmission to the appropriate Central Authority within that State.

• 3 The designation of the Central Authority or Central Authorities, their contact details, and where appropriate the extent of their functions as specified in paragraph 2, shall be communicated by a Contracting State to the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law at the time when the instrument of ratification or accession is deposited or when a declaration is submitted in accordance with Article 61. Contracting States shall promptly inform the Permanent Bureau of any changes.

ARTICLE 5
General Functions of Central Authorities

Central Authorities shall –

• a) co-operate with each other and promote co-operation amongst the competent authorities in their States to achieve the purposes of the Convention;

• b) seek as far as possible solutions to difficulties which arise in the application of the Convention.

ARTICLE 6
Specific Functions of Central Authorities

• 1 Central Authorities shall provide assistance in relation to applications under Chapter III. In particular they shall –

  • a) transmit and receive such applications;

  • b) initiate or facilitate the institution of proceedings in respect of such applications.

• 2 In relation to such applications they shall take all appropriate measures –

  • a) where the circumstances require, to provide or facilitate the provision of legal assistance;

  • b) to help locate the debtor or the creditor;

  • c) to help obtain relevant information concerning the income and, if necessary, other financial circumstances of the debtor or creditor, including the location of assets;

  • d) to encourage amicable solutions with a view to obtaining voluntary payment of maintenance, where suitable by use of mediation, conciliation or similar processes;

  • e) to facilitate the ongoing enforcement of maintenance decisions, including any arrears;

  • f) to facilitate the collection and expeditious transfer of maintenance payments;

  • g) to facilitate the obtaining of documentary or other evidence;

  • h) to provide assistance in establishing parentage where necessary for the recovery of maintenance;

  • i) to initiate or facilitate the institution of proceedings to obtain any necessary provisional measures that are territorial in nature and the purpose of which is to secure the outcome of a pending maintenance application;

  • j) to facilitate service of documents.

• 3 The functions of the Central Authority under this Article may, to the extent permitted under the law of its State, be performed by public bodies, or other bodies subject to the supervision of the competent authorities of that State. The designation of any such public bodies or other bodies, as well as their contact details and the extent of their functions, shall be communicated by a Contracting State to the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law. Contracting States shall promptly inform the Permanent.

• 4 Nothing in this Article or Article 7 shall be interpreted as imposing an obligation on a Central Authority to exercise powers that can be exercised only by judicial authorities under the law of the requested State.

ARTICLE 7
Requests for Specific Measures

• 1 A Central Authority may make a request, supported by reasons, to another Central Authority to take appropriate specific measures under Article 6(2) b), c), g), h), i) and j) when no application under Article 10 is pending. The requested Central Authority shall take such measures as are appropriate if satisfied that they are necessary to assist a potential applicant in making an application under Article 10 or in determining whether such an application should be initiated.

• 2 A Central Authority may also take specific measures on the request of another Central Authority in relation to a case having an international element concerning the recovery of maintenance pending in the requesting State.

ARTICLE 8
Central Authority Costs

• 1 Each Central Authority shall bear its own costs in applying this Convention.

• 2 Central Authorities may not impose any charge on an applicant for the provision of their services under the Convention save for exceptional costs arising from a request for a specific measure under Article 7.

• 3 The requested Central Authority may not recover the costs of the services referred to in paragraph 2 without the prior consent of the applicant to the provision of those services at such cost.

CHAPTER III
Applications Through Central Authorities

ARTICLE 9
Application Through Central Authorities

An application under this Chapter shall be made through the Central Authority of the Contracting State in which the applicant resides to the Central Authority of the requested State. For the purpose of this provision, residence excludes mere presence.

ARTICLE 10
Available Applications

• 1 The following categories of application shall be available to a creditor in a requesting State seeking to recover maintenance under this Convention –

  • a) recognition or recognition and enforcement of a decision;

  • b) enforcement of a decision made or recognised in the requested State;

  • c) establishment of a decision in the requested State where there is no existing decision, including where necessary the establishment of parentage;

  • d) establishment of a decision in the requested State where recognition and enforcement of a decision is not possible, or is refused, because of the lack of a basis for recognition and enforcement under Article 20, or on the grounds specified in Article 22 b) or e);

  • e) modification of a decision made in the requested State;

  • f) modification of a decision made in a State other than the requested State.

• 2 The following categories of application shall be available to a debtor in a requesting State against whom there is an existing maintenance decision –

  • a) recognition of a decision, or an equivalent procedure leading to the suspension, or limiting the enforcement, of a previous decision in the requested State;

  • b) modification of a decision made in the requested State;

  • c) modification of a decision made in a State other than the requested State.

• 3 Save as otherwise provided in this Convention, the applications in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be determined under the law of the requested State, and applications in paragraphs 1 c) to f) and 2 b) and c) shall be subject to the jurisdictional rules applicable in the requested State.

ARTICLE 11
Application Contents

• 1 All applications under Article 10 shall as a minimum include –

  • a) a statement of the nature of the application or applications;

  • b) the name and contact details, including the address and date of birth of the applicant;

  • c) the name and, if known, address and date of birth of the respondent;

  • d) the name and date of birth of any person for whom maintenance is sought;

  • e) the grounds upon which the application is based;

  • f) in an application by a creditor, information concerning where the maintenance payment should be sent or electronically transmitted;

  • g) save in an application under Article 10(1) a) and (2) a), any information or document specified by declaration in accordance with Article 63 by the requested State;

  • h) the name and contact details of the person or unit from the Central Authority of the requesting State responsible for processing the application.

• 2 As appropriate, and to the extent known, the application shall in addition in particular include –

  • a) the financial circumstances of the creditor;

  • b) the financial circumstances of the debtor, including the name and address of the employer of the debtor and the nature and location of the assets of the debtor;

  • c) any other information that may assist with the location of the respondent.

• 3 The application shall be accompanied by any necessary supporting information or documentation including documentation concerning the entitlement of the applicant to free legal assistance. In the case of applications under Article 10(1) a) and (2) a), the application shall be accompanied only by the documents listed in Article 25.

• 4 An application under Article 10 may be made in the form recommended and published by the Hague Conference on Private International Law.

ARTICLE 12
Transmission, Receipt and Processing of Applications and Cases Through Central Authorities

• 1 The Central Authority of the requesting State shall assist the applicant in ensuring that the application is accompanied by all the information and documents known by it to be necessary for consideration of the application.

• 2 The Central Authority of the requesting State shall, when satisfied that the application complies with the requirements of the Convention, transmit the application on behalf of and with the consent of the applicant to the Central Authority of the requested State. The application shall be accompanied by the transmittal form set out in Annex 1. The Central Authority of the requesting State shall, when requested by the Central Authority of the requested State, provide a complete copy certified by the competent authority in the State of origin of any document specified under Articles 16(3), 25(1) a), b), and d), (3) b) and 30(3).

• 3 The requested Central Authority shall, within six weeks from the date of receipt of the application, acknowledge receipt in the form set out in Annex 2, and inform the Central Authority of the requesting State what initial steps have been or will be taken to deal with the application, and may request any further necessary documents and information. Within the same six-week period, the requested Central Authority shall provide to the requesting Central Authority the name and contact details of the person or unit responsible for responding to inquiries regarding the progress of the application.

• 4 Within three months after the acknowledgement, the requested Central Authority shall inform the requesting Central Authority of the status of the application.

• 5 Requesting and requested Central Authorities shall keep each other informed of –

  • a) the person or unit responsible for a particular case;

  • b) the progress of the case,

  and shall provide timely responses to enquiries.

• 6 Central Authorities shall process a case as quickly as a proper consideration of the issues will allow.

• 7 Central Authorities shall employ the most rapid and efficient means of communication at their disposal.

• 8 A requested Central Authority may refuse to process an application only if it is manifest that the requirements of the Convention are not fulfilled. In such case, that Central Authority shall promptly inform the requesting Central Authority of its reasons for refusal.

• 9 The requested Central Authority may not reject an application solely on the basis that additional documents or information are needed. However, the requested Central Authority may ask the requesting Central Authority to provide these additional documents or information. If the requesting Central Authority does not do so within three months or a longer period specified by the requested Central Authority, the requested Central Authority may decide that it will no longer process the application. In this case, it shall inform the requesting Central Authority of this decision.

ARTICLE 13
Means of Communication

Any application made through Central Authorities of the Contracting States in accordance with this Chapter, and any document or information appended thereto or provided by a Central Authority, may not be challenged by the respondent by reason only of the medium or means of communication employed between the Central Authorities concerned.

ARTICLE 14
Effective Access to Procedures

• 1 The requested State shall provide applicants with effective access to procedures, including enforcement and appeal procedures, arising from applications under this Chapter.

• 2 To provide such effective access, the requested State shall provide free legal assistance in accordance with Articles 14 to 17 unless paragraph 3 applies.

• 3 The requested State shall not be obliged to provide such free legal assistance if and to the extent that the procedures of that State enable the applicant to make the case without the need for such assistance, and the Central Authority provides such services as are necessary free of charge.

• 4 Entitlements to free legal assistance shall not be less than those available in equivalent domestic cases.

• 5 No security, bond or deposit, however described, shall be required to guarantee the payment of costs and expenses in proceedings under the Convention.

ARTICLE 15
Free Legal Assistance for Child Support Applications

• 1 The requested State shall provide free legal assistance in respect of all applications by a creditor under this Chapter concerning maintenance obligations arising from a parent-child relationship towards a person under the age of 21 years.

• 2 Notwithstanding paragraph 1, the requested State may, in relation to applications other than those under Article 10(1) a) and b) and the cases covered by Article 20(4), refuse free legal assistance if it considers that, on the merits, the application or any appeal is manifestly unfounded.

ARTICLE 16
Declaration To Permit Use of Child-centred Means Test

• 1 Notwithstanding Article 15(1), a State may declare, in accordance with Article 63, that it will provide free legal assistance in respect of applications other than under Article 10(1) a) and b) and the cases covered by Article 20(4), subject to a test based on an assessment of the means of the child.

• 2 A State shall, at the time of making such a declaration, provide information to the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law concerning the manner in which the assessment of the child’s means will be carried out, including the financial criteria which would need to be met to satisfy the test.

• 3 An application referred to in paragraph 1, addressed to a State which has made the declaration referred to in that paragraph, shall include a formal attestation by the applicant stating that the child’s means meet the criteria referred to in paragraph 2. The requested State may only request further evidence of the child’s means if it has reasonable grounds to believe that the information provided by the applicant is inaccurate.

• 4 If the most favourable legal assistance provided for by the law of the requested State in respect of applications under this Chapter concerning maintenance obligations arising from a parent-child relationship towards a child is more favourable than that provided for under paragraphs 1 to 3, the most favourable legal assistance shall be provided.

ARTICLE 17
Applications not Qualifying Under Article 15 or Article 16

In the case of all applications under this Convention other than those under Article 15 or Article 16 –

• a) the provision of free legal assistance may be made subject to a means or a merits test;

• b) an applicant, who in the State of origin has benefited from free legal assistance, shall be entitled, in any proceedings for recognition or enforcement, to benefit, at least to the same extent, from free legal assistance as provided for by the law of the State addressed under the same circumstances.

CHAPTER IV
Restrictions on Bringing Proceedings

ARTICLE 18
Limit on Proceedings

• 1 Where a decision is made in a Contracting State where the creditor is habitually resident, proceedings to modify the decision or to make a new decision cannot be brought by the debtor in any other Contracting State as long as the creditor remains habitually resident in the State where the decision was made.

• 2 Paragraph 1 shall not apply –

  • a) where, except in disputes relating to maintenance obligations in respect of children, there is agreement in writing between the parties to the jurisdiction of that other Contracting State;

  • b) where the creditor submits to the jurisdiction of that other Contracting State either expressly or by defending on the merits of the case without objecting to the jurisdiction at the first available opportunity;

  • c) where the competent authority in the State of origin cannot, or refuses to, exercise jurisdiction to modify the decision or make a new decision; or

  • d) where the decision made in the State of origin cannot be recognised or declared enforceable in the Contracting State where proceedings to modify the decision or make a new decision are contemplated.

CHAPTER V
Recognition and Enforcement

ARTICLE 19
Scope of the Chapter

• 1 This Chapter shall apply to a decision rendered by a judicial or administrative authority in respect of a maintenance obligation. The term “decision” also includes a settlement or agreement concluded before or approved by such an authority. A decision may include automatic adjustment by indexation and a requirement to pay arrears, retroactive maintenance or interest and a determination of costs or expenses.

• 2 If a decision does not relate solely to a maintenance obligation, the effect of this Chapter is limited to the parts of the decision which concern maintenance obligations.

• 3 For the purpose of paragraph 1, “administrative authority” means a public body whose decisions, under the law of the State where it is established –

  • a) may be made the subject of an appeal to or review by a judicial authority; and

  • b) have a similar force and effect to a decision of a judicial authority on the same matter.

• 4 This Chapter also applies to maintenance arrangements in accordance with Article 30.

• 5 The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to a request for recognition and enforcement made directly to a competent authority of the State addressed in accordance with Article 37.

ARTICLE 20
Bases for Recognition and Enforcement

• 1 A decision made in one Contracting State (“the State of origin”) shall be recognised and enforced in other Contracting States if –

  • a) the respondent was habitually resident in the State of origin at the time proceedings were instituted;

  • b) the respondent has submitted to the jurisdiction either expressly or by defending on the merits of the case without objecting to the jurisdiction at the first available opportunity;

  • c) the creditor was habitually resident in the State of origin at the time proceedings were instituted;

  • d) the child for whom maintenance was ordered was habitually resident in the State of origin at the time proceedings were instituted, provided that the respondent has lived with the child in that State or has resided in that State and provided support for the child there;

  • e) except in disputes relating to maintenance obligations in respect of children, there has been agreement to the jurisdiction in writing by the parties; or

  • f) the decision was made by an authority exercising jurisdiction on a matter of personal status or parental responsibility, unless that jurisdiction was based solely on the nationality of one of the parties.

• 2 A Contracting State may make a reservation, in accordance with Article 62, in respect of paragraph 1 c), e) or f).

• 3 A Contracting State making a reservation under paragraph 2 shall recognise and enforce a decision if its law would in similar factual circumstances confer or would have conferred jurisdiction on its authorities to make such a decision.

• 4 A Contracting State shall, if recognition of a decision is not possible as a result of a reservation under paragraph 2, and if the debtor is habitually resident in that State, take all appropriate measures to establish a decision for the benefit of the creditor. The preceding sentence shall not apply to direct requests for recognition and enforcement under Article 19(5) or to claims for support referred to in Article 2(1) b).

• 5 A decision in favour of a child under the age of 18 years which cannot be recognised by virtue only of a reservation in respect of paragraph 1 c), e) or f) shall be accepted as establishing the eligibility of that child for maintenance in the State addressed.

• 6 A decision shall be recognised only if it has effect in the State of origin, and shall be enforced only if it is enforceable in the State of origin.

ARTICLE 21
Severability and Partial Recognition and Enforcement

• 1 If the State addressed is unable to recognise or enforce the whole of the decision, it shall recognise or enforce any severable part of the decision which can be so recognised or enforced.

• 2 Partial recognition or enforcement of a decision can always be applied for.

ARTICLE 22
Grounds for Refusing Recognition and Enforcement

Recognition and enforcement of a decision may be refused if –

• a) recognition and enforcement of the decision is manifestly incompatible with the public policy (“ordre public”) of the State addressed;

• b) the decision was obtained by fraud in connection with a matter of procedure;

• c) proceedings between the same parties and having the same purpose are pending before an authority of the State addressed and those proceedings were the first to be instituted;

• d) the decision is incompatible with a decision rendered between the same parties and having the same purpose, either in the State addressed or in another State, provided that this latter decision fulfils the conditions necessary for its recognition and enforcement in the State addressed;

• e) in a case where the respondent has neither appeared nor was represented in proceedings in the State of origin

  • i) when the law of the State of origin provides for notice of proceedings, the respondent did not have proper notice of the proceedings and an opportunity to be heard; or

  • ii) when the law of the State of origin does not provide for notice of the proceedings, the respondent did not have proper notice of the decision and an opportunity to challenge or appeal it on fact and law; or

• f) the decision was made in violation of Article 18.

ARTICLE 23
Procedure on an Application for Recognition and Enforcement

• 1 Subject to the provisions of the Convention, the procedures for recognition and enforcement shall be governed by the law of the State addressed.

• 2 Where an application for recognition and enforcement of a decision has been made through Central Authorities in accordance with Chapter III, the requested Central Authority shall promptly either –

  • a) refer the application to the competent authority which shall without delay declare the decision enforceable or register the decision for enforcement; or

  • b) if it is the competent authority take such steps itself.

• 3 Where the request is made directly to a competent authority in the State addressed in accordance with Article 19(5), that authority shall without delay declare the decision enforceable or register the decision for enforcement.

• 4 A declaration or registration may be refused only on the ground set out in Article 22 a). At this stage neither the applicant nor the respondent is entitled to make any submissions.

• 5 The applicant and the respondent shall be promptly notified of the declaration or registration, made under paragraphs 2 and 3, or the refusal thereof in accordance with paragraph 4, and may bring a challenge or appeal on fact and on a point of law.

• 6 A challenge or an appeal is to be lodged within 30 days of notification under paragraph 5. If the contesting party is not resident in the Contracting State in which the declaration or registration was made or refused, the challenge or appeal shall be lodged within 60 days of notification.

• 7 A challenge or appeal may be founded only on the following –

  • a) the grounds for refusing recognition and enforcement set out in Article 22;

  • b) the bases for recognition and enforcement under Article 20;

  • c) the authenticity or integrity of any document transmitted in accordance with Article 25(1) a), b) or d) or (3) b).

• 8 A challenge or an appeal by a respondent may also be founded on the fulfilment of the debt to the extent that the recognition and enforcement relates to payments that fell due in the past.

• 9 The applicant and the respondent shall be promptly notified of the decision following the challenge or the appeal.

• 10 A further appeal, if permitted by the law of the State addressed, shall not have the effect of staying the enforcement of the decision unless there are exceptional circumstances.

• 11 In taking any decision on recognition and enforcement, including any appeal, the competent authority shall act expeditiously.

ARTICLE 24
Alternative Procedure on an Application for Recognition and Enforcement

• 1 Notwithstanding Article 23(2) to (11), a State may declare, in accordance with Article 63, that it will apply the procedure for recognition and enforcement set out in this Article.

• 2 Where an application for recognition and enforcement of a decision has been made through Central Authorities in accordance with Chapter III, the requested Central Authority shall promptly either –

  • a) refer the application to the competent authority which shall decide on the application for recognition and enforcement; or

  • b) if it is the competent authority, take such a decision itself.

• 3 A decision on recognition and enforcement shall be given by the competent authority after the respondent has been duly and promptly notified of the proceedings and both parties have been given an adequate opportunity to be heard.

• 4 The competent authority may review the grounds for refusing recognition and enforcement set out in Article 22 a), c) and d) of its own motion. It may review any grounds listed in Articles 20, 22 and 23(7) c) if raised by the respondent or if concerns relating to those grounds arise from the face of the documents submitted in accordance with Article 25.

• 5 A refusal of recognition and enforcement may also be founded on the fulfilment of the debt to the extent that the recognition and enforcement relates to payments that fell due in the past.

• 6 Any appeal, if permitted by the law of the State addressed, shall not have the effect of staying the enforcement of the decision unless there are exceptional circumstances.

• 7 In taking any decision on recognition and enforcement, including any appeal, the competent authority shall act expeditiously.

ARTICLE 25
Documents

• 1 An application for recognition and enforcement under Article 23 or Article 24 shall be accompanied by the following

  • a) a complete text of the decision;

  • b) a document stating that the decision is enforceable in the State of origin and, in the case of a decision by an administrative authority, a document stating that the requirements of Article 19(3) are met unless that State has specified in accordance with Article 57 that decisions of its administrative authorities always meet those requirements;

  • c) if the respondent did not appear and was not represented in the proceedings in the State of origin, a document or documents attesting, as appropriate, either that the respondent had proper notice of the proceedings and an opportunity to be heard, or that the respondent had proper notice of the decision and the opportunity to challenge or appeal it on fact and law;

  • d) where necessary, a document showing the amount of any arrears and the date such amount was calculated;

  • e) where necessary, in the case of a decision providing for automatic adjustment by indexation, a document providing the information necessary to make the appropriate calculations;

  • f) where necessary, documentation showing the extent to which the applicant received free legal assistance in the State of origin.

• 2 Upon a challenge or appeal under Article 23(7) c) or upon request by the competent authority in the State addressed, a complete copy of the document concerned, certified by the competent authority in the State of origin, shall be provided promptly –

  • a) by the Central Authority of the requesting State, where the application has been made in accordance with Chapter III;

  • b) by the applicant, where the request has been made directly to a competent authority of the State addressed.

• 3 A Contracting State may specify in accordance with Article 57 –

  • a) that a complete copy of the decision certified by the competent authority in the State of origin must accompany the application;

  • b) circumstances in which it will accept, in lieu of a complete text of the decision, an abstract or extract of the decision drawn up by the competent authority of the State of origin, which may be made in the form recommended and published by the Hague Conference on Private International Law; or

  • c) that it does not require a document stating that the requirements of Article 19(3) are met.

ARTICLE 26
Procedure on an Application for Recognition

This Chapter shall apply mutatis mutandis to an application for recognition of a decision, save that the requirement of enforceability is replaced by the requirement that the decision has effect in the State of origin.

ARTICLE 27
Findings of Fact

Any competent authority of the State addressed shall be bound by the findings of fact on which the authority of the State of origin based its jurisdiction.

ARTICLE 28
No Review of the Merits

There shall be no review by any competent authority of the State addressed of the merits of a decision.

ARTICLE 29
Physical Presence of the Child or the Applicant not Required

The physical presence of the child or the applicant shall not be required in any proceedings in the State addressed under this Chapter.

ARTICLE 30
Maintenance Arrangements

• 1 A maintenance arrangement made in a Contracting State shall be entitled to recognition and enforcement as a decision under this Chapter provided that it is enforceable as a decision in the State of origin.

• 2 For the purpose of Article 10(1) a) and b) and (2) a), the term “decision” includes a maintenance arrangement.

• 3 An application for recognition and enforcement of a maintenance arrangement shall be accompanied by the following –

  • a) a complete text of the maintenance arrangement; and

  • b) a document stating that the particular maintenance arrangement is enforceable as a decision in the State of origin.

• 4 Recognition and enforcement of a maintenance arrangement may be refused if –

  • a) the recognition and enforcement is manifestly incompatible with the public policy of the State addressed;

  • b) the maintenance arrangement was obtained by fraud or falsification;

  • c) the maintenance arrangement is incompatible with a decision rendered between the same parties and having the same purpose, either in the State addressed or in another State, provided that this latter decision fulfils the conditions necessary for its recognition and enforcement in the State addressed.

• 5 The provisions of this Chapter, with the exception of Articles 20, 22, 23(7) and 25(1) and (3), shall apply mutatis mutandis to the recognition and enforcement of a maintenance arrangement save that –

  • a) a declaration or registration in accordance with Article 23(2) and (3) may be refused only on the ground set out in paragraph 4 a);

  • b) a challenge or appeal as referred to in Article 23(6) may be founded only on the following –

    • i) the grounds for refusing recognition and enforcement set out in paragraph 4;

    • ii) the authenticity or integrity of any document transmitted in accordance with paragraph 3;

  • c) as regards the procedure under Article 24(4), the competent authority may review of its own motion the ground for refusing recognition and enforcement set out in paragraph 4 a) of this Article. It may review all grounds listed in paragraph 4 of this Article and the authenticity or integrity of any document transmitted in accordance with paragraph 3 if raised by the respondent or if concerns relating to those grounds arise from the face of those documents.

• 6 Proceedings for recognition and enforcement of a maintenance arrangement shall be suspended if a challenge concerning the arrangement is pending before a competent authority of a Contracting State.

• 7 A State may declare, in accordance with Article 63, that applications for recognition and enforcement of a maintenance arrangement shall only be made through Central Authorities.

• 8 A Contracting State may, in accordance with Article 62, reserve the right not to recognise and enforce a maintenance arrangement.

ARTICLE 31
Decisions Produced by the Combined Effect of Provisional and Confirmation Orders

Where a decision is produced by the combined effect of a provisional order made in one State and an order by an authority in another State (“the confirming State”) confirming the provisional order –

• a) each of those States shall be deemed for the purposes of this Chapter to be a State of origin;

• b) the requirements of Article 22 e) shall be met if the respondent had proper notice of the proceedings in the confirming State and an opportunity to oppose the confirmation of the provisional order;

• c) the requirement of Article 20(6) that a decision be enforceable in the State of origin shall be met if the decision is enforceable in the confirming State; and

• d) Article 18 shall not prevent proceedings for the modification of the decision being commenced in either State.

CHAPTER VI
Enforcement by the State Addressed

ARTICLE 32
Enforcement Under Internal Law

• 1 Subject to the provisions of this Chapter, enforcement shall take place in accordance with the law of the State addressed.

• 2 Enforcement shall be prompt.

• 3 In the case of applications through Central Authorities, where a decision has been declared enforceable or registered for enforcement under Chapter V, enforcement shall proceed without the need for further action by the applicant.

• 4 Effect shall be given to any rules applicable in the State of origin of the decision relating to the duration of the maintenance obligation.

• 5 Any limitation on the period for which arrears may be enforced shall be determined either by the law of the State of origin of the decision or by the law of the State addressed, whichever provides for the longer limitation period.

ARTICLE 33
Non-Discrimination

The State addressed shall provide at least the same range of enforcement methods for cases under the Convention as are available in domestic cases.

ARTICLE 34
Enforcement Measures

• 1 Contracting States shall make available in internal law effective measures to enforce decisions under this Convention.

• 2 Such measures may include –

  • a) wage withholding;

  • b) garnishment from bank accounts and other sources;

  • c) deductions from social security payments;

  • d) lien on or forced sale of property;

  • e) tax refund withholding;

  • f) withholding or attachment of pension benefits;

  • g) credit bureau reporting;

  • h) denial, suspension or revocation of various licenses (for example, driving licenses);

  • i) the use of mediation, conciliation or similar processes to bring about voluntary compliance.

ARTICLE 35
Transfer of Funds

• 1 Contracting States are encouraged to promote, including by means of international agreements, the use of the most cost-effective and efficient methods available to transfer funds payable as maintenance.

• 2 A Contracting State, under whose law the transfer of funds is restricted, shall accord the highest priority to the transfer of funds payable under this Convention.

CHAPTER VII
Public Bodies

ARTICLE 36
Public Bodies as Applicants

• 1 For the purposes of applications for recognition and enforcement under Article 10(1) a) and b) and cases covered by Article 20(4), “creditor” includes a public body acting in place of an individual to whom maintenance is owed or one to which reimbursement is owed for benefits provided in place of maintenance.

• 2 The right of a public body to act in place of an individual to whom maintenance is owed or to seek reimbursement of benefits provided to the creditor in place of maintenance shall be governed by the law to which the body is subject.

• 3 A public body may seek recognition or claim enforcement of –

  • a) a decision rendered against a debtor on the application of a public body which claims payment of benefits provided in place of maintenance;

  • b) a decision rendered between a creditor and debtor to the extent of the benefits provided to the creditor in place of maintenance.

• 4 The public body seeking recognition or claiming enforcement of a decision shall upon request furnish any document necessary to establish its right under paragraph 2 and that benefits have been provided to the creditor.

CHAPTER VIII
General Provision

ARTICLE 37
Direct Requests to Competent Authorities

• 1 The Convention shall not exclude the possibility of recourse to such procedures as may be available under the internal law of a Contracting State allowing a person (an applicant) to seize directly a competent authority of that State in a matter governed by the Convention including, subject to Article 18, for the purpose of having a maintenance decision established or modified.

• 2 Articles 14(5) and 17 b) and the provisions of Chapters V, VI, VII and this Chapter, with the exception of Articles 40(2), 42, 43(3), 44(3), 45 and 55, shall apply in relation to a request for recognition and enforcement made directly to a competent authority in a Contracting State.

• 3 For the purpose of paragraph 2, Article 2(1) a) shall apply to a decision granting maintenance to a vulnerable person over the age specified in that sub-paragraph where such decision was rendered before the person reached that age and provided for maintenance beyond that age by reason of the impairment.

ARTICLE 38
Protection of Personal Data

Personal data gathered or transmitted under the Convention shall be used only for the purposes for which they were gathered or transmitted.

ARTICLE 39
Confidentiality

Any authority processing information shall ensure its confidentiality in accordance with the law of its State.

ARTICLE 40
Non-Disclosure of Information

• 1 An authority shall not disclose or confirm information gathered or transmitted in application of this Convention if it determines that to do so could jeopardise the health, safety or liberty of a person.

• 2 A determination to this effect made by one Central Authority shall be taken into account by another Central Authority, in particular in cases of family violence.

• 3 Nothing in this Article shall impede the gathering and transmitting of information by and between authorities in so far as necessary to carry out the obligations under the Convention.

ARTICLE 41
No Legalisation

No legalisation or similar formality may be required in the context of this Convention.

ARTICLE 42
Power of Attorney

The Central Authority of the requested State may require a power of attorney from the applicant only if it acts on his or her behalf in judicial proceedings or before other authorities, or in order to designate a representative so to act.

ARTICLE 43
Recovery of Costs

• 1 Recovery of any costs incurred in the application of this Convention shall not take precedence over the recovery of maintenance.

• 2 A State may recover costs from an unsuccessful party.

• 3 For the purposes of an application under Article 10(1) b) to recover costs from an unsuccessful party in accordance with paragraph 2, the term “creditor” in Article 10(1) shall include a State.

• 4 This Article shall be without prejudice to Article 8.

ARTICLE 44
Language Requirements

• 1 Any application and related documents shall be in the original language, and shall be accompanied by a translation into an official language of the requested State or another language which the requested State has indicated, by way of declaration in accordance with Article 63, it will accept, unless the competent authority of that State dispenses with translation.

• 2 A Contracting State which has more than one official language and cannot, for reasons of internal law, accept for the whole of its territory documents in one of those languages shall, by declaration in accordance with Article 63, specify the language in which such documents or translations thereof shall be drawn up for submission in the specified parts of its territory.

• 3 Unless otherwise agreed by the Central Authorities, any other communications between such Authorities shall be in an official language of the requested State or in either English or French. However a Contracting State may, by making a reservation in accordance with Article 62, object to the use of either English or French.

ARTICLE 45
Means and Costs of Translation

• 1 In the case of applications under Chapter III, the Central Authorities may agree in an individual case or generally that the translation into an official language of the requested State may be made in the requested State from the original language or from any other agreed language. If there is no agreement and it is not possible for the requesting Central Authority to comply with the requirements of Article 44(1) and (2), then the application and related documents may be transmitted with translation into English or French for further translation into an official language of the requested State.

• 2 The cost of translation arising from the application of paragraph 1 shall be borne by the requesting State unless otherwise agreed by Central Authorities of the States concerned.

• 3 Notwithstanding Article 8, the requesting Central Authority may charge an applicant for the costs of translation of an application and related documents, except in so far as those costs may be covered by its system of legal assistance.

ARTICLE 46
Non-Unified Legal Systems Interpretation

• 1 In relation to a State in which two or more systems of law or sets of rules of law with regard to any matter dealt with in this Convention apply in different territorial units

  • a) any reference to the law or procedure of a State shall be construed as referring, where appropriate, to the law or procedure in force in the relevant territorial unit;

  • b) any reference to a decision established, recognised, recognised and enforced, enforced or modified in that State shall be construed as referring, where appropriate, to a decision established, recognised, recognised and enforced, enforced or modified in the relevant territorial unit;

  • c) any reference to a judicial or administrative authority in that State shall be construed as referring, where appropriate, to a judicial or administrative authority in the relevant territorial unit;

  • d) any reference to competent authorities, public bodies, and other bodies of that State, other than Central Authorities, shall be construed as referring, where appropriate, to those authorised to act in the relevant territorial unit;

  • e) any reference to residence or habitual residence in that State shall be construed as referring, where appropriate, to residence or habitual residence in the relevant territorial unit;

  • f) any reference to location of assets in that State shall be construed as referring, where appropriate, to the location of assets in the relevant territorial unit;

  • g) any reference to a reciprocity arrangement in force in a State shall be construed as referring, where appropriate, to a reciprocity arrangement in force in the relevant territorial unit;

  • h) any reference to free legal assistance in that State shall be construed as referring, where appropriate, to free legal assistance in the relevant territorial unit;

  • i) any reference to a maintenance arrangement made in a State shall be construed as referring, where appropriate, to a maintenance arrangement made in the relevant territorial unit;

  • j) any reference to recovery of costs by a State shall be construed as referring, where appropriate, to the recovery of costs by the relevant territorial unit.

• 2 This Article shall not apply to a Regional Economic Integration Organisation.

ARTICLE 47
Non-Unified Legal Systems – Substantive Rules

• 1 A Contracting State with two or more territorial units in which different systems of law apply shall not be bound to apply this Convention to situations which involve solely such different territorial units.

• 2 A competent authority in a territorial unit of a Contracting State with two or more territorial units in which different systems of law apply shall not be bound to recognise or enforce a decision from another Contracting State solely because the decision has been recognised or enforced in another territorial unit of the same Contracting State under this Convention.

• 3 This Article shall not apply to a Regional Economic Integration Organisation.

ARTICLE 48
Co-ordination with Prior Hague Maintenance Conventions

In relations between the Contracting States, this Convention replaces, subject to Article 56(2), the Hague Convention of 2 October 1973 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions Relating to Maintenance Obligations and the Hague Convention of 15 April 1958 concerning the recognition and enforcement of decisions relating to maintenance obligations towards children in so far as their scope of application as between such States coincides with the scope of application of this Convention.

ARTICLE 49
Co-ordination with the 1956 New York Convention

In relations between the Contracting States, this Convention replaces the United Nations Convention on the Recovery Abroad of Maintenance of 20 June 1956, in so far as its scope of application as between such States coincides with the scope of application of this Convention.

ARTICLE 50
Relationship with Prior Hague Convention on Service of Documents and Taking of Evidence

This Convention does not affect the Hague Convention of 1 March 1954 on civil procedure, the Hague Convention of 15 November 1965 on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters and the Hague Convention of 18 March 1970 on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters.

ARTICLE 51
Co-ordination of Instruments and Supplementary Agreements

• 1 This Convention does not affect any international instrument concluded before this Convention to which Contracting States are Parties and which contains provisions on matters governed by this Convention.

• 2 Any Contracting State may conclude with one or more Contracting States agreements, which contain provisions on matters governed by the Convention, with a view to improving the application of the Convention between or among themselves, provided that such agreements are consistent with the objects and purpose of the Convention and do not affect, in the relationship of such States with other Contracting States, the application of the provisions of the Convention. The States which have concluded such an agreement shall transmit a copy to the depositary of the Convention.

• 3 Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall also apply to reciprocity arrangements and to uniform laws based on special ties between the States concerned.

• 4 This Convention shall not affect the application of instruments of a Regional Economic Integration Organisation that is a Party to this Convention, adopted after the conclusion of the Convention, on matters governed by the Convention provided that such instruments do not affect, in the relationship of Member States of the Regional Economic Integration Organisation with other Contracting States, the application of the provisions of the Convention. As concerns the recognition or enforcement of decisions as between Member States of the Regional Economic Integration Organisation, the Convention shall not affect the rules of the Regional Economic Integration Organisation, whether adopted before or after the conclusion of the Convention.

ARTICLE 52
Most Effective Rule

• 1 This Convention shall not prevent the application of an agreement, arrangement or international instrument in force between the requesting State and the requested State, or a reciprocity arrangement in force in the requested State that provides for –

  • a) broader bases for recognition of maintenance decisions, without prejudice to Article 22 f) of the Convention;

  • b) simplified, more expeditious procedures on an application for recognition or recognition and enforcement of maintenance decisions;

  • c) more beneficial legal assistance than that provided for under Articles 14 to 17; or

  • d) procedures permitting an applicant from a requesting State to make a request directly to the Central Authority of the requested State.

• 2 This Convention shall not prevent the application of a law in force in the requested State that provides for more effective rules as referred to in paragraph 1 a) to c). However, as regards simplified, more expeditious procedures referred to in paragraph 1 b), they must be compatible with the protection offered to the parties under Articles 23 and 24, in particular as regards the rights of the parties to be duly notified of the proceedings and be given adequate opportunity to be heard and as regards the effects of any challenge or appeal.

ARTICLE 53
Uniform Interpretation

In the interpretation of this Convention, regard shall be had to its international character and to the need to promote uniformity in its application.

ARTICLE 54
Review of Practical Operation of the Convention

• 1 The Secretary General of the Hague Conference on Private International Law shall at regular intervals convene a Special Commission in order to review the practical operation of the Convention and to encourage the development of good practices under the Convention.

• 2 For the purpose of such review, Contracting States shall co-operate with the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law in the gathering of information, including statistics and case law, concerning the practical operation of the Convention.

ARTICLE 55
Amendments of Forms

• 1 The forms annexed to this Convention may be amended by a decision of a Special Commission convened by the Secretary General of the Hague Conference on Private International Law to which all Contracting States and all Members shall be invited. Notice of the proposal to amend the forms shall be included in the agenda for the meeting.

• 2 Amendments adopted by the Contracting States present at the Special Commission shall come into force for all Contracting States on the first day of the seventh calendar month after the date of their communication by the depositary to all Contracting States.

• 3 During the period provided for in paragraph 2 any Contracting State may by notification in writing to the depositary make a reservation, in accordance with Article 62, with respect to the amendment. The State making such reservation shall, until the reservation is withdrawn, be treated as a State not Party to the present Convention with respect to that amendment.

ARTICLE 56
Transitional Provisions

• 1 The Convention shall apply in every case where –

  • a) a request pursuant to Article 7 or an application pursuant to Chapter III has been received by the Central Authority of the requested State after the Convention has entered into force between the requesting State and the requested State;

  • b) a direct request for recognition and enforcement has been received by the competent authority of the State addressed after the Convention has entered into force between the State of origin and the State addressed.

• 2 With regard to the recognition and enforcement of decisions between Contracting States to this Convention that are also Parties to either of the Hague Maintenance Conventions mentioned in Article 48, if the conditions for the recognition and enforcement under this Convention prevent the recognition and enforcement of a decision given in the State of origin before the entry into force of this Convention for that State, that would otherwise have been recognised and enforced under the terms of the Convention that was in effect at the time the decision was rendered, the conditions of that Convention shall apply.

• 3 The State addressed shall not be bound under this Convention to enforce a decision or a maintenance arrangement, in respect of payments falling due prior to the entry into force of the Convention between the State of origin and the State addressed, except for maintenance obligations arising from a parent-child relationship towards a person under the age of 21 years.

ARTICLE 57
Provision of Information Concerning Laws, Procedures and Services

• 1 A Contracting State, by the time its instrument of ratification or accession is deposited or a declaration is submitted in accordance with Article 61 of the Convention, shall provide the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law with –

  • a) a description of its laws and procedures concerning maintenance obligations;

  • b) a description of the measures it will take to meet the obligations under Article 6;

  • c) a description of how it will provide applicants with effective access to procedures, as required under Article 14;

  • d) a description of its enforcement rules and procedures, including any limitations on enforcement, in particular debtor protection rules and limitation periods;

  • e) any specification referred to in Article 25(1) b) and (3).

• 2 Contracting States may, in fulfilling their obligations under paragraph 1, utilise a country profile form recommended and published by the Hague Conference on Private International Law.

• 3 Information shall be kept up to date by the Contracting States.

CHAPTER IX
Final Provisions

ARTICLE 58
Signature, Ratification and Accession

• 1 The Convention shall be open for signature by the States which were Members of the Hague Conference on Private International Law at the time of its Twenty-First Session and by the other States which participated in that Session.

• 2 It shall be ratified, accepted or approved and the instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, depositary of the Convention.

• 3 Any other State or Regional Economic Integration Organisation may accede to the Convention after it has entered into force in accordance with Article 60(1).

• 4 The instrument of accession shall be deposited with the depositary.

• 5 Such accession shall have effect only as regards the relations between the acceding State and those Contracting States which have not raised an objection to its accession in the 12 months after the date of the notification referred to in Article 65. Such an objection may also be raised by States at the time when they ratify, accept or approve the Convention after an accession. Any such objection shall be notified to the depositary.

ARTICLE 59
Regional Economic Integration Organisations

• 1 A Regional Economic Integration Organisation which is constituted solely by sovereign States and has competence over some or all of the matters governed by this Convention may similarly sign, accept, approve or accede to this Convention. The Regional Economic Integration Organisation shall in that case have the rights and obligations of a Contracting State, to the extent that the Organisation has competence over matters governed by the Convention.

• 2 The Regional Economic Integration Organisation shall, at the time of signature, acceptance, approval or accession, notify the depositary in writing of the matters governed by this Convention in respect of which competence has been transferred to that Organisation by its Member States. The Organisation shall promptly notify the depositary in writing of any changes to its competence as specified in the most recent notice given under this paragraph.

• 3 At the time of signature, acceptance, approval or accession, a Regional Economic Integration Organisation may declare in accordance with Article 63 that it exercises competence over all the matters governed by this Convention and that the Member States which have transferred competence to the Regional Economic Integration Organisation in respect of the matter in question shall be bound by this Convention by virtue of the signature, acceptance, approval or accession of the Organisation.

• 4 For the purposes of the entry into force of this Convention, any instrument deposited by a Regional Economic Integration Organisation shall not be counted unless the Regional Economic Integration Organisation makes a declaration in accordance with paragraph 3.

• 5 Any reference to a “Contracting State” or “State” in this Convention shall apply equally to a Regional Economic Integration Organisation that is a Party to it, where appropriate. In the event that a declaration is made by a Regional Economic Integration Organisation in accordance with paragraph 3, any reference to a “Contracting State” or “State” in this Convention shall apply equally to the relevant Member States of the Organisation, where appropriate.

ARTICLE 60
Entry into Force

• 1 The Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of three months after the deposit of the second instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval referred to in Article 58.

• 2 Thereafter the Convention shall enter into force –

  • a) for each State or Regional Economic Integration Organisation referred to in Article 59(1) subsequently ratifying, accepting or approving it, on the first day of the month following the expiration of three months after the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval;

  • b) for each State or Regional Economic Integration Organisation referred to in Article 58(3) on the day after the end of the period during which objections may be raised in accordance with Article 58(5);

  • c) for a territorial unit to which the Convention has been extended in accordance with Article 61, on the first day of the month following the expiration of three months after the notification referred to in that Article.

ARTICLE 61
Declarations with Respect to Non-Unified Legal Systems

• 1 If a State has two or more territorial units in which different systems of law are applicable in relation to matters dealt with in the Convention, it may at the time of signature, ratification, acceptance, approval or accession declare in accordance with Article 63 that this Convention shall extend to all its territorial units or only to one or more of them and may modify this declaration by submitting another declaration at any time.

• 2 Any such declaration shall be notified to the depositary and shall state expressly the territorial units to which the Convention applies.

• 3 If a State makes no declaration under this Article, the Convention shall extend to all territorial units of that State.

• 4 This Article shall not apply to a Regional Economic Integration Organisation.

ARTICLE 62
Reservations

• 1 Any Contracting State may, not later than the time of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, or at the time of making a declaration in terms of Article 61, make one or more of the reservations provided for in Articles 2(2), 20(2), 30(8), 44(3) and 55(3). No other reservation shall be permitted.

• 2 Any State may at any time withdraw a reservation it has made. The withdrawal shall be notified to the depositary.

• 3 The reservation shall cease to have effect on the first day of the third calendar month after the notification referred to in paragraph 2.

• 4 Reservations under this Article shall have no reciprocal effect with the exception of the reservation provided for in Article 2(2).

ARTICLE 63
Declarations

• 1 Declarations referred to in Articles 2(3), 11(1) g), 16(1), 24(1), 30(7), 44(1) and (2), 59(3) and 61(1), may be made upon signature, ratification, acceptance, approval or accession or at any time thereafter, and may be modified or withdrawn at any time.

• 2 Declarations, modifications and withdrawals shall be notified to the depositary.

• 3 A declaration made at the time of signature, ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall take effect simultaneously with the entry into force of this Convention for the State concerned.

• 4 A declaration made at a subsequent time, and any modification or withdrawal of a declaration, shall take effect on the first day of the month following the expiration of three months after the date on which the notification is received by the depositary.

ARTICLE 64
Denunciation

• 1 A Contracting State to the Convention may denounce it by a notification in writing addressed to the depositary. The denunciation may be limited to certain territorial units of a multi-unit State to which the Convention applies.

• 2 The denunciation shall take effect on the first day of the month following the expiration of 12 months after the date on which the notification is received by the depositary. Where a longer period for the denunciation to take effect is specified in the notification, the denunciation shall take effect upon the expiration of such longer period after the date on which the notification is received by the depositary.

ARTICLE 65
Notification

The depositary shall notify the Members of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, and other States and Regional Economic Integration Organisations which have signed, ratified, accepted, approved or acceded in accordance with Articles 58 and 59 of the following –

• a) the signatures, ratifications, acceptances and approvals referred to in Articles 58 and 59;

• b) the accessions and objections raised to accessions referred to in Articles 58(3) and (5) and 59;

• c) the date on which the Convention enters into force in accordance with Article 60;

• d) the declarations referred to in Articles 2(3), 11(1) g), 16(1), 24(1), 30(7), 44(1) and (2), 59(3) and 61(1);

• e) the agreements referred to in Article 51(2);

• f) the reservations referred to in Articles 2(2), 20(2), 30(8), 44(3) and 55(3), and the withdrawals referred to in Article 62(2);

• g) the denunciations referred to in Article 64.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Convention.

DONE at The Hague, on the 23rd day of November 2007, in the English and French languages, both texts being equally authentic, in a single copy which shall be deposited in the archives of the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and of which a certified copy shall be sent, through diplomatic channels, to each of the Members of the Hague Conference on Private International Law at the date of its Twenty-First Session and to each of the other States which have participated in that Session.

Certified true copy of the original

The Director of Treaties of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

ANNEX 1Transmittal form under Article 12(2)

CONFIDENTIALITY AND PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION NOTICE

Personal data gathered or transmitted under the Convention shall be used only for the purposes for which it was gathered or transmitted. Any authority processing such data shall ensure its confidentiality, in accordance with the law of its State.

An authority shall not disclose or confirm information gathered or transmitted in application of this Convention if it determines that to do so could jeopardise the health, safety or liberty of a person in accordance with Article 40.

• □ A determination of non-disclosure has been made by a Central Authority in accordance with Article 40.

1.	Requesting Central Authority	2.	Contact person in requesting State
a.	Address	a.	Address (if different)
b.	Telephone number	b.	Telephone number (if different)
c.	Fax number	c.	Fax number (if different)
d.	E-mail	d.	E-mail (if different)
e.	Reference number	e.	Language(s)

3.	Requested Central Authority
	Address

4.	Particulars of the applicant
	a.	Family name(s):
	b.	Given name(s):
	c.	Date of birth	(dd/mm/yyyy)
	or
	a.	Name of the public body:

5.	Particulars of the person(s) for whom maintenance is sought or payable
	a.	□	The person is the same as the applicant named in point 4
	b.	i.	Family name(s):
			Given name(s):
			Date of birth:	(dd/mm/yyyy)
		ii.	Family name(s):
			Given name(s):
			Date of birth:	(dd/mm/yyyy)
		iii.	Family name(s):
			Given name(s):
			Date of birth:	(dd/mm/yyyy)

6.	Particulars of the debtorFootnote for 1
	a.	□	The person is the same as the applicant named in point 4
	b.	Family name(s):
	c.	Given name(s):
	d.	Date of birth:	(dd/mm/yyyy)

• Return to footnote ¹According to Art. 3 of the Convention ““debtor” means an individual who owes or who is alleged to owe maintenance”.

7.	This transmittal form concerns and is accompanied by an application under:
	□	Article 10(1) a)
	□	Article 10(1) b)
	□	Article 10(1) c)
	□	Article 10(1) d)
	□	Article 10(1) e)
	□	Article 10(1) f)
	□	Article 10(2) a)
	□	Article 10(2) b)
	□	Article 10(2) c)

8.	The following documents are appended to the application:
	a.	For the purpose of an application under Article 10(1) a) and:
		In accordance with Article 25:
		□	Complete text of the decision (Art. 25(1) a))
		□	Abstract or extract of the decision drawn up by the competent authority of the State of origin (Art. 25(3) b)) (if applicable)
		□	Document stating that the decision is enforceable in the State of origin and, in the case of a decision by an administrative authority, a document stating that the requirements of Article 19(3) are met unless that State has specified in accordance with Article 57 that decisions of its administrative authorities always meet those requirements (Art. 25(1) b)) or if Article 25(3) c) is applicable
		□	If the respondent did not appear and was not represented in the proceedings in the State or origin, a document or documents attesting, as appropriate, either that the respondent had proper notice of the proceedings and an opportunity to be heard, or that the respondent had proper notice of the decision and the opportunity to challenge or appeal it on fact and law (Art. 25(1) c))
		□	Where necessary, a document showing the amount of any arrears and the date such amount was calculated (Art. 25(1) d))
		□	Where necessary, a document providing the information necessary to make appropriate calculation in case of a decision providing for automatic adjustment by indexation (Art. 25(1) e))
		□	Where necessary, documentation showing the extent to which the applicant received free legal assistance in the State or origin (Art. 25(1) f))
		In accordance with Article 30(3):
		□	Complete text of the maintenance arrangement (Art. 30(3) a))
		□	A document stating that the particular maintenance arrangement is enforceable as a decision in the State of origin (Art. 30(3) b))
		□	Any other documents accompanying the application (e.g., if required, a document for the purpose of Art. 36(4)):
	b.	For the purpose of an application under Article 10(1) b), c), d), e), f) and (2) a), b) or c), the following number of supporting documents (excluding the transmittal form and the application itself) in accordance with Article 11(3):
		□	Article 10(1) b)
		□	Article 10(1) c)
		□	Article 10(1) d)
		□	Article 10(1) e)
		□	Article 10(1) f)
		□	Article 10(2) a)
		□	Article 10(2) b)
		□	Article 10(2) c)

Name: (in block letters)		Date:
Authorised representative of the Central Authority		(dd/mm/yyyy)

ANNEX 2Acknowledgement form under Article 12(3)

CONFIDENTIALITY AND PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION NOTICE

Personal data gathered or transmitted under the Convention shall be used only for the purposes for which it was gathered or transmitted. Any authority processing such data shall ensure its confidentiality, in accordance with the law of its State.

An authority shall not disclose or confirm information gathered or transmitted in application of this Convention if it determines that to do so could jeopardise the health, safety or liberty of a person in accordance with Article 40.

• □ A determination of non-disclosure has been made by a Central Authority in accordance with Article 40.

1.	Requested Central Authority	2.	Contact person in requesting State
a.	Address	a.	Address (if different)
b.	Telephone number	b.	Telephone number (if different)
c.	Fax number	c.	Fax number (if different)
d.	E-mail	d.	E-mail (if different)
e.	Reference number	e.	Language(s)

3.	Requested Central Authority
	Contact person
	Address

4.	The requested Central Authority acknowledges receipt on (dd/mm/yyyy) of the transmittal form from the requesting Central Authority (reference number ; dated (dd/mm/yyyy) concerning the following application under:
	□	Article 10(1) a)
	□	Article 10(1) b)
	□	Article 10(1) c)
	□	Article 10(1) d)
	□	Article 10(1) e)
	□	Article 10(1) f)
	□	Article 10(2) a)
	□	Article 10(2) b)
	□	Article 10(2) c)

	Family name(s) of applicant:
	Family name(s) of the person(s) for whom maintenance is sought or payable:
	Family name(s) of debtor:

5.	Initial steps taken by the requested Central Authority:
	□	The file is complete and is under consideration
		□	See attached status of application report
		□	Status of application report will follow
	□	Please provide the following additional information and / or documentation:
	□	The requested Central Authority refuses to process this application as it is manifest that the requirements of the Convention are not fulfilled (Art. 12(8)).
		The reasons:
		□	are set out in an attached document
		□	will be set out in a document to follow
The requested Central Authority requests that the requesting Central Authority inform it of any change in the status of the application.

Name: (in block letters)		Date:
Authorised representative of the Central Authority		(dd/mm/yyyy)

• 2019, c. 16, s. 36