(LRC Revised)

Number 26 of 1987

STATUS OF CHILDREN ACT 1987

REVISED

Updated to 4 May 2020

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

Status of Children Act 1987

. 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 the

Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020

(2/2020), enacted 27 March 2020, and all statutory instruments up to and including

the

Planning and Development Act 2000 (Subsection (4) of Section 251A) (No. 2) Order 2020

(S.I. No. 165 of 2020), made 8 May 2020, 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

26

of

1987

STATUS OF CHILDREN ACT 1987

REVISED

Updated to 4 May 2020

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART I

Preliminary and General

Section

1.

Short title and commencement.

2.

Interpretation.

3.

Marital status of parents to be of no effect on relationships.

4.

Construction of references to persons whose parents have or have not married each

other, etc.

5.

Meaning of father, mother, parent in Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts, 1956

and 1986.

PART II

Amendment of the Act of 1931

6.

Definition (

Part II

).

7.

Amendment of section 1 of the Act of 1931.

PART III

Guardianship

8.

Definition (

Part III

).

9.

Amendment of section 2 of the Act of 1964.

10.

Proof of paternity in certain proceedings.

11.

Amendment of section 6 of the Act of 1964.

12.

Power of court to appoint certain fathers as guardians.

13.

Amendment of section 11 of the Act of 1964.

PART IV

Maintenance

14.

Definition (

Part IV

).

15.

Disputed parentage in maintenance proceedings, etc.

16.

Amendment of section 3 of the Act of 1976.

17.

Amendment of section 5 of the Act of 1976.

18.

Maintenance order (provision for certain dependent children).

19.

Amendment of section 6 of the Act of 1976.

20.

Orders in respect of certain other agreements.

21.

Birth and funeral expenses of dependent child.

22.

Amendment of section 23 of the Act of 1976.

23.

Amendment of section 24 of the Act of 1976.

24.

Amendment of Defence Act, 1954.

25.

Repeal of the Act of 1930 and consequential provisions.

PART V

Property Rights

26.

Definition (

Part V

).

27.

Construction of dispositions, etc.

28.

Amendment of section 3 of the Act of 1965.

29.

Succession rights.

30.

Entitlement to grant of probate or administration.

31.

Amendment of section 117 of the Act of 1965.

32.

Repeals relating to property rights.

PART VI

Declarations of Parentage

33.

Definitions (

Part VI

).

34.

Jurisdiction and venue (

Part VI

).

35.

Declaration of parentage.

36.

Supplementary provisions to

section 35

.

PART VII

Blood Tests in Determining Parentage in Civil Proceedings

37.

Definitions (

Part VII

).

38.

Direction by court on blood tests.

39.

Consent to, and taking of, blood samples.

40.

Blood tests and reports.

41.

Regulations for purpose of giving effect to this Part.

42.

Failure to comply with direction on blood tests.

43.

Penalty for personation for blood test purposes.

PART VIII

Presumptions and Evidential Provisions

44.

Abrogation of presumption of legitimacy or illegitimacy.

45.

Finding of parentage as evidence in other proceedings.

46.

Presumptions of paternity and non-paternity.

47.

Admissibility of certain evidence.

PART IX

Registration and Re-registration of Births

48.

Re-registration of birth after declaration of parentage.

49.

Amendment of Births and Deaths Registration Act (Ireland), 1880.

50.

Construction and collective citation (

Part IX

).

Acts Referred to

Adoption Act, 1952

1952, No. 25

Adoption Acts, 1952 to 1976

Age of Majority Act, 1985

1985, No. 2

Births and Deaths Registration Act (Ireland), 1880

43 and 44 Vict., c. 13

Births and Deaths Registration Acts, 1863 to 1972

Courts Act, 1981

1981, No. 11

Defence Act, 1954

1954, No. 18

Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1979

1979, No. 28

Evidence Further Amendment Act, 1869

32 and 33 Vict., c. 68

Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act, 1976

1976, No. 11

Friendly Societies Act, 1896

59 and 60 Vict., c. 25

Guardianship of Infants Act, 1964

1964, No. 7

Health Act, 1970

1970, No. 1

Illegitimate Children (Affiliation Orders) Act, 1930

1930, No. 17

Industrial and Provident Societies Act, 1893

56 and 57 Vict., c. 39

Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts, 1956 and 1986

Legitimacy Act, 1931

1931, No. 13

Local Government (Superannuation) Act, 1956

1956, No. 10

Provident Nominations and Small Intestacies Act, 1883

46 and 47 Vict., c. 47

Savings Banks Act, 1887

50 and 51 Vict., c. 40

Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981

1981, No. 1

Succession Act, 1965

1965, No. 27

Superannuation Act, 1887

50 and 51 Vict., c. 67

Number

26

of

1987

STATUS OF CHILDREN ACT 1987

REVISED

Updated to 4 May 2020

AN ACT TO EQUALISE THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND AMEND THE LAW RELATING TO THEIR STATUS

AND FOR THOSE PURPOSES TO AMEND THE LAW RELATING TO LEGITIMACY AND TO GUARDIANSHIP

OF INFANTS, TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE

FAMILY LAW (MAINTENANCE OF SPOUSES AND CHILDREN) ACT, 1976

, IN RELATION TO CERTAIN CHILDREN AND TO AMEND FURTHER THE LAW RELATING TO MAINTENANCE,

TO AMEND THE LAW RELATING TO SUCCESSION AND OTHER PROPERTY RIGHTS, TO PROVIDE FOR

DECLARATIONS OF PARENTAGE AND FOR THE USE OF BLOOD TESTS TO ASSIST IN THE DETERMINATION

OF PARENTAGE, TO AMEND THE LAW RELATING TO CERTAIN PRESUMPTIONS AND EVIDENCE, TO MAKE

FURTHER PROVISION FOR THE REGISTRATION AND RE-REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND TO PROVIDE

FOR CONNECTED MATTERS. [14

th December

, 1987]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS

Annotations

Modifications (not altering text)

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 2017.

E2

The Court may give directions to obtain a written report on any questions affecting

the welfare of a party to the proceedings or any other person to whom the proceedings

relate as provided (1.08.1996) by

Family Law Act 1995

(26/1995), s. 47(1) and s. 47(6)(e), S.I. No. 46 of 1996.

E3

Proceedings under Act included in definition of “family law proceedings” (19.10.1989) by

Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989

(6/1989), s. 30, commenced as per s. 46(2).

E4

Circuit Court to be known as the Circuit Family Court when exercising its jurisdiction

to hear and determine family law proceedings as provided (19.10.1989) by

Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989

(6/1989), s. 31(1), commenced as per s. 46(2).

E5

Circuit Family Court authorised to hear and determine proceedings instituted under

Act at different places, times or days (19.10.1989) by

Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989

(6/1989), s. 32, commenced as per s. 46(2).

E6

Conduct of family proceedings in District Court, Circuit Family Court and High Court

required to be informal (19.10.1989) by

Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989

(6/1989), ss. 33 and 45, commenced as per s. 46(2).

Annotations

Modifications (not altering text)

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 2017.

E2

The Court may give directions to obtain a written report on any questions affecting

the welfare of a party to the proceedings or any other person to whom the proceedings

relate as provided (1.08.1996) by

Family Law Act 1995

(26/1995), s. 47(1) and s. 47(6)(e), S.I. No. 46 of 1996.

E3

Proceedings under Act included in definition of “family law proceedings” (19.10.1989) by

Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989

(6/1989), s. 30, commenced as per s. 46(2).

E4

Circuit Court to be known as the Circuit Family Court when exercising its jurisdiction

to hear and determine family law proceedings as provided (19.10.1989) by

Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989

(6/1989), s. 31(1), commenced as per s. 46(2).

E5

Circuit Family Court authorised to hear and determine proceedings instituted under

Act at different places, times or days (19.10.1989) by

Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989

(6/1989), s. 32, commenced as per s. 46(2).

E6

Conduct of family proceedings in District Court, Circuit Family Court and High Court

required to be informal (19.10.1989) by

Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989

(6/1989), ss. 33 and 45, commenced as per s. 46(2).

Section

1.

Short title and commencement.

2.

Interpretation.

3.

Marital status of parents to be of no effect on relationships.

4.

Construction of references to persons whose parents have or have not married each

other, etc.

5.

Meaning of father, mother, parent in Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts, 1956

and 1986.

PART II

Amendment of the Act of 1931

6.

Definition (

Part II

).

7.

Amendment of section 1 of the Act of 1931.

PART III

Guardianship

8.

Definition (

Part III

).

9.

Amendment of section 2 of the Act of 1964.

10.

Proof of paternity in certain proceedings.

11.

Amendment of section 6 of the Act of 1964.

12.

Power of court to appoint certain fathers as guardians.

13.

Amendment of section 11 of the Act of 1964.

PART IV

Maintenance

14.

Definition (

Part IV

).

15.

Disputed parentage in maintenance proceedings, etc.

16.

Amendment of section 3 of the Act of 1976.

17.

Amendment of section 5 of the Act of 1976.

18.

Maintenance order (provision for certain dependent children).

19.

Amendment of section 6 of the Act of 1976.

20.

Orders in respect of certain other agreements.

21.

Birth and funeral expenses of dependent child.

22.

Amendment of section 23 of the Act of 1976.

23.

Amendment of section 24 of the Act of 1976.

24.

Amendment of Defence Act, 1954.

25.

Repeal of the Act of 1930 and consequential provisions.

PART V

Property Rights

26.

Definition (

Part V

).

27.

Construction of dispositions, etc.

28.

Amendment of section 3 of the Act of 1965.

29.

Succession rights.

30.

Entitlement to grant of probate or administration.

31.

Amendment of section 117 of the Act of 1965.

32.

Repeals relating to property rights.

PART VI

Declarations of Parentage

33.

Definitions (

Part VI

).

34.

Jurisdiction and venue (

Part VI

).

35.

Declaration of parentage.

36.

Supplementary provisions to

section 35

.

PART VII

Blood Tests in Determining Parentage in Civil Proceedings

37.

Definitions (

Part VII

).

38.

Direction by court on blood tests.

39.

Consent to, and taking of, blood samples.

40.

Blood tests and reports.

41.

Regulations for purpose of giving effect to this Part.

42.

Failure to comply with direction on blood tests.

43.

Penalty for personation for blood test purposes.

PART VIII

Presumptions and Evidential Provisions

44.

Abrogation of presumption of legitimacy or illegitimacy.

45.

Finding of parentage as evidence in other proceedings.

46.

Presumptions of paternity and non-paternity.

47.

Admissibility of certain evidence.

PART IX

Registration and Re-registration of Births

48.

Re-registration of birth after declaration of parentage.

49.

Amendment of Births and Deaths Registration Act (Ireland), 1880.

50.

Construction and collective citation (

Part IX

).

Number

26

of

1987