IE
(LRC Revised)
Statutory Text (1 Articles)
Number 22 of 1981
FAMILY LAW ACT 1981
REVISED
Updated to 28 May 2019
Changes to legislation
as of 10 July 2026, this Act is up to date with all changes known to be in force.
This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the
Family Law Act 1981
. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under
the
Law Reform Commission Act 1975
(3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation
of statute law.
All Acts up to and including
Greyhound Racing Act 2019
(15/2019), enacted 28 May 2019, and all statutory instruments up to and including
European Communities (Sheep Identification) (Amendment) Regulations 2019
(S.I. No. 243 of 2019), made 28 May 2019, were considered in the preparation of this
Revised Act.
Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act,
the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees,
undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature
of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from
any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email
to
revisedacts@lawreform.ie.
Number
22
of
1981
FAMILY LAW ACT 1981
REVISED
Updated to 28 May 2019
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section
1.
Abolition of actions for criminal conversation, enticement and harbouring of spouse.
2.
Engagements to marry not enforceable at law.
3.
Gifts to engaged couples by other persons.
4.
Gifts between engaged couples.
5.
Property of engaged couples.
6.
Application to the court in case of substantial benefit to a party to a broken engagement.
7.
Application to the court in case of substantial expenditure incurred by or on behalf
of a party to a broken engagement.
8.
Jurisdiction (
sections 6
and
7
).
9.
Limitation period for proceedings under this Act.
10.
Consent by minor spouse to disposal of family home, etc.
11.
Short title.
Acts Referred to
Married Women's Status Act, 1957
1957, No. 5
Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act, 1961
1961, No. 39
Family Home Protection Act, 1976
1976, No. 27
Number
22
of
1981
FAMILY LAW ACT 1981
REVISED
Updated to 28 May 2019
AN ACT TO ABOLISH ACTIONS FOR CRIMINAL CONVERSATION, ENTICEMENT AND HARBOURING OF
A SPOUSE AND BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE, TO MAKE PROVISION IN RELATION TO THE PROPERTY
OF, AND GIFTS TO AND BETWEEN, PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED AND IN RELATION
TO THE VALIDITY OF THE CONSENT OF A MINOR SPOUSE FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE
FAMILY HOME PROTECTION ACT, 1976
, AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS. [23
rd June,
1981]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS
Annotations
Editorial Notes
E1
Proceedings under Act included in definition of “family law proceedings” (1.01.2018) by
Mediation Act 2017
(27/2017), s. 2, S.I. No. 591 of 2019.
E2
Discretion to grant legal aid in respect of proceedings under Act provided (11.10.1996)
by
Civil Legal Aid Act 1995
(32/1995), s. 28(9)(c)(i), S.I. No. 272 of 1996.
E3
Circuit Court to be known as “Circuit Family Court” when exercising its jurisdiction to hear and determine proceedings under Act as provided
(19.10.1989) by
Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989
(6/1989), ss. 30 and 31, commenced as per s. 46(2).
E4
Circuit Family Court to hear and determine proceedings instituted under Act in a
different place, or at different times or on different days, from the ordinary Circuit
Court as provided (19.10.1989) by
Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989
(6/1989), ss. 30 and 32, commenced as per s. 46(2).
E5
Conduct of family proceedings before Circuit Family Court and High Court to be as
informal as practicable as provided (19.10.1989) by
Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989
(6/1989), ss. 30 and 33, commenced as per s. 46(2).
Annotations
Editorial Notes
E1
Proceedings under Act included in definition of “family law proceedings” (1.01.2018) by
Mediation Act 2017
(27/2017), s. 2, S.I. No. 591 of 2019.
E2
Discretion to grant legal aid in respect of proceedings under Act provided (11.10.1996)
by
Civil Legal Aid Act 1995
(32/1995), s. 28(9)(c)(i), S.I. No. 272 of 1996.
E3
Circuit Court to be known as “Circuit Family Court” when exercising its jurisdiction to hear and determine proceedings under Act as provided
(19.10.1989) by
Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989
(6/1989), ss. 30 and 31, commenced as per s. 46(2).
E4
Circuit Family Court to hear and determine proceedings instituted under Act in a
different place, or at different times or on different days, from the ordinary Circuit
Court as provided (19.10.1989) by
Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989
(6/1989), ss. 30 and 32, commenced as per s. 46(2).
E5
Conduct of family proceedings before Circuit Family Court and High Court to be as
informal as practicable as provided (19.10.1989) by
Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989
(6/1989), ss. 30 and 33, commenced as per s. 46(2).
Section
1.
Abolition of actions for criminal conversation, enticement and harbouring of spouse.
2.
Engagements to marry not enforceable at law.
3.
Gifts to engaged couples by other persons.
4.
Gifts between engaged couples.
5.
Property of engaged couples.
6.
Application to the court in case of substantial benefit to a party to a broken engagement.
7.
Application to the court in case of substantial expenditure incurred by or on behalf
of a party to a broken engagement.
8.
Jurisdiction (
sections 6
and
7
).
9.
Limitation period for proceedings under this Act.
10.
Consent by minor spouse to disposal of family home, etc.
11.
Short title.
Number
22
of
1981