(LRC Revised)

Number 26 of 1995

FAMILY LAW ACT 1995

REVISED

Updated to 1 August 2022

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 1995

. 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

Electoral Reform Act 2022

(30/2022), enacted 25 July 2022, and all statutory instruments up to and including

the

European Union (Decisions in Matrimonial Matters and in Matters of Parental

Responsibility and International Child Abduction) Regulations 2022

(S.I. No. 400

of 2022), made 31 July 2022, 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

1995

FAMILY LAW ACT 1995

REVISED

Updated to 1 August 2022

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART I

Preliminary and General

Section

1.

Short title and commencement.

2.

Interpretation.

3.

Repeals.

4.

Expenses.

PART II

Preliminary and Ancillary Orders in or after Proceedings for Judicial Separation

5.

Application (

sections 6

to

14

).

6.

Preliminary orders in proceedings for judicial separation.

7.

Maintenance pending suit orders.

8.

Periodical payments and lump sum orders.

9.

Property adjustment orders.

10.

Miscellaneous ancillary orders.

11.

Financial compensation orders.

12.

Pension adjustment orders.

13.

Preservation of pension entitlements after judicial separation.

14.

Orders extinguishing succession rights on judicial separation.

15.

Orders for sale of property.

15A.

Orders for provision for spouse out of estate of other spouse.

16.

Provisions relating to certain orders under

sections 7

to

13

and

18

.

17.

Retrospective periodical payments orders.

18.

Variation, etc., of certain orders under this Part.

19.

Restriction in relation to orders for benefit of dependent members of the family.

20.

Transmission of periodical payments through District Court clerk.

21.

Application of maintenance pending suit and periodical payment orders to certain members

of Defence Forces.

22.

Amendment of Enforcement of Court Orders Act, 1940.

PART III

Relief after Divorce or Separation Outside State

23.

Relief orders where marriage dissolved, or spouses legally separated outside State.

24.

Maintenance pending relief orders.

25.

Orders for provision for spouse out of estate of other spouse.

26.

Appropriateness of making relief orders in State.

27.

Jurisdiction of court to make relief orders.

28.

Restriction of jurisdiction of court to make relief orders.

PART IV

Declarations as to Marital Status

29.

Declarations as to marital status.

30.

Provisions supplementary to

section 29

.

PART V

Marriage

31.

Age of marriage.

32.

Notification of intention to marry.

33.

Exemption of certain marriages from

sections 31

(1)

and

32

(1)

.

(Repealed)

34.

Abolition of right to petition for jactitation of marriage.

PART VI

Miscellaneous

35.

Powers of court in relation to transactions intended to prevent or reduce relief.

36.

Determination of questions between spouses in relation to property.

37.

Payments to be made without deduction of income tax.

38.

Jurisdiction of courts and venue.

39.

Exercise of jurisdiction by court in relation to nullity.

40.

Notice of proceedings under Act.

41.

Secured maintenance orders.

42.

Lump sum maintenance orders.

43.

Amendment of Act of 1976.

44.

Discharge of orders under Act of 1976.

45.

Amendment of Maintenance Act, 1994.

46.

Custody of dependent members of the family after decree of nullity.

47.

Social reports in family law proceedings.

48.

Property of engaged couples.

49.

Income tax treatment of persons divorced outside State.

50.

Exemption of certain transfers from stamp duty.

51.

Exemption of certain transfers from capital acquisitions tax.

52.

Capital gains tax treatment of certain disposals by spouses.

53.

Abatement and postponement of probate tax on property the subject of an order under

section 25

.

54.

Amendment of Family Home Protection Act, 1976, and Act of 1989.

55.

Amendment of Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act, 1991.

SCHEDULE

Enactments Repealed

Number

26

of

1995

FAMILY LAW ACT 1995

REVISED

Updated to 1 August 2022

AN ACT TO MAKE FURTHER PROVISION IN RELATION TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS TO

MAKE PRELIMINARY AND ANCILLARY ORDERS IN OR AFTER PROCEEDINGS FOR JUDICIAL SEPARATION,

TO ENABLE SUCH ORDERS TO BE MADE IN CERTAIN CASES WHERE MARRIAGES ARE DISSOLVED, OR

AS RESPECTS WHICH THE SPOUSES BECOME JUDICIALLY SEPARATED, UNDER THE LAW OF ANOTHER

STATE, TO MAKE FURTHER PROVISION IN RELATION TO MAINTENANCE UNDER THE

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

, AND IN RELATION TO MARRIAGE AND TO PROVIDE FOR CONNECTED MATTERS. [2

nd October

, 1995]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS

Annotations

Modifications (not altering text)

C1

Certain functions in relation to Act transferred (1.01.2014, establisment day) by

Child and Family Agency Act 2013

, ss. 6, 82 and sch. 1, S.I. Nos. 502 and 503 of 2013.

Transfer of certain functions of Health Service Executive

82.

—(1) The administration and business in connection with the performance of any of the

functions transferred by subsection (2) are transferred, on the establishment day,

to the Agency.

(2) The functions vested in the Health Service Executive by or under the enactments

specified in Schedule 1 shall, on the establishment day, stand transferred to the

Agency.

...

SCHEDULE 1

Functions of Health Service Executive Transferred to Agency

...

Family Law Act 1995

...

C2

Functions transferred and references to “Department of Equality and Law Reform” and “Minister for Equality and Law Reform” construed (8.07.1997) by

Equality and Law Reform (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions)

Order 1997

(S.I. No. 297 of 1997), arts. 3, 4 and sch., in effect as per art. 1(2).

3. (1) The administration and business in connection with the exercise, performance

or execution of any functions transferred by Article 4 of this Order are hereby transferred

to the Department of Justice.

(2) References to the Department of Equality and Law Reform contained in any Act or

any instrument made thereunder and relating to any administration and business transferred

by paragraph (1) of this Article shall, on and after the commencement of this Order,

be construed as references to the Department of Justice.

4. (1) The functions vested in the Minister for Equality and Law Reform

(

a

) by or under any of the Acts mentioned in the Schedule to this Order, and

(

b

) by virtue of the Justice (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial

Functions) Order, 1993 (

S.I. No. 34 of 1993

).

are hereby transferred to the Minister for Justice.

(2) References to the Minister for Equality and Law Reform contained in any Act or

instrument made thereunder and relating to any functions transferred by this Article

shall, on and after the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to

the Minister for Justice.

...

SCHEDULE

Acts, functions under which are transferred from the Minister for Equality and Law

Reform to the Minister for Justice.

...

Family Law Act 1995 (No. 26 of 1995)

...

Editorial Notes

E1

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

Rights and incumbrances, for purposes of

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009

(27/2009), s. 117, confirmed to include claims under Act (1.12.2009) by

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009

(27/2009), s. 117(4)(a), S.I. No. 356 of 2009.

E3

Central Authority authorised to act on behalf of a maintenance creditor under Act

by

Maintenance Act 1994

(28/1994), s. 4(2)(a); as substituted (1.12.1999) by

Jurisdiction of Courts and Enforcement of Judgments Act 1998

(52/1998), s. 22(2), S.I. No. 353 of 1999; and substituted (10.03.2012) by

Jurisdiction of Courts and Enforcement of Judgments (Amendment) Act 2012

(7/2012), s. 2(1)(b), commenced on enactment.

E4

Certain disposals made by virtue or in consequence of certain orders made under Act

confirmed exempt from capital gains tax (1997-1998 onwards) by

Taxes Consolidation Act 1997

(39/1997), s. 1030, commenced as per s. 1097(1)(c); as amended (10.02.2000) by

Finance Act 2000

(3/2000), s. 88(1), commenced as per s. 88(2); and as amended (7.12.2005) by

Finance Act 2006

(6/2006), s. 75(1)(b), commenced as per s. 75(2).

E5

Exemption from deduction of income tax for payments made pursuant to an order under

Act (other than under s. 12) provided (from year 1997-1998) by

Taxes Consolidation Act 1997

(39/1997), s. 1027, commenced as per s. 1097.

Annotations

Modifications (not altering text)

C1

Certain functions in relation to Act transferred (1.01.2014, establisment day) by

Child and Family Agency Act 2013

, ss. 6, 82 and sch. 1, S.I. Nos. 502 and 503 of 2013.

Transfer of certain functions of Health Service Executive

82.

—(1) The administration and business in connection with the performance of any of the

functions transferred by subsection (2) are transferred, on the establishment day,

to the Agency.

(2) The functions vested in the Health Service Executive by or under the enactments

specified in Schedule 1 shall, on the establishment day, stand transferred to the

Agency.

...

SCHEDULE 1

Functions of Health Service Executive Transferred to Agency

...

Family Law Act 1995

...

C2

Functions transferred and references to “Department of Equality and Law Reform” and “Minister for Equality and Law Reform” construed (8.07.1997) by

Equality and Law Reform (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions)

Order 1997

(S.I. No. 297 of 1997), arts. 3, 4 and sch., in effect as per art. 1(2).

3. (1) The administration and business in connection with the exercise, performance

or execution of any functions transferred by Article 4 of this Order are hereby transferred

to the Department of Justice.

(2) References to the Department of Equality and Law Reform contained in any Act or

any instrument made thereunder and relating to any administration and business transferred

by paragraph (1) of this Article shall, on and after the commencement of this Order,

be construed as references to the Department of Justice.

4. (1) The functions vested in the Minister for Equality and Law Reform

(

a

) by or under any of the Acts mentioned in the Schedule to this Order, and

(

b

) by virtue of the Justice (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial

Functions) Order, 1993 (

S.I. No. 34 of 1993

).

are hereby transferred to the Minister for Justice.

(2) References to the Minister for Equality and Law Reform contained in any Act or

instrument made thereunder and relating to any functions transferred by this Article

shall, on and after the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to

the Minister for Justice.

...

SCHEDULE

Acts, functions under which are transferred from the Minister for Equality and Law

Reform to the Minister for Justice.

...

Family Law Act 1995 (No. 26 of 1995)

...

Editorial Notes

E1

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

Rights and incumbrances, for purposes of

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009

(27/2009), s. 117, confirmed to include claims under Act (1.12.2009) by

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009

(27/2009), s. 117(4)(a), S.I. No. 356 of 2009.

E3

Central Authority authorised to act on behalf of a maintenance creditor under Act

by

Maintenance Act 1994

(28/1994), s. 4(2)(a); as substituted (1.12.1999) by

Jurisdiction of Courts and Enforcement of Judgments Act 1998

(52/1998), s. 22(2), S.I. No. 353 of 1999; and substituted (10.03.2012) by

Jurisdiction of Courts and Enforcement of Judgments (Amendment) Act 2012

(7/2012), s. 2(1)(b), commenced on enactment.

E4

Certain disposals made by virtue or in consequence of certain orders made under Act

confirmed exempt from capital gains tax (1997-1998 onwards) by

Taxes Consolidation Act 1997

(39/1997), s. 1030, commenced as per s. 1097(1)(c); as amended (10.02.2000) by

Finance Act 2000

(3/2000), s. 88(1), commenced as per s. 88(2); and as amended (7.12.2005) by

Finance Act 2006

(6/2006), s. 75(1)(b), commenced as per s. 75(2).

E5

Exemption from deduction of income tax for payments made pursuant to an order under

Act (other than under s. 12) provided (from year 1997-1998) by

Taxes Consolidation Act 1997

(39/1997), s. 1027, commenced as per s. 1097.

PART I

Preliminary and General

Section

1.

Short title and commencement.

2.

Interpretation.

3.

Repeals.

4.

Expenses.

PART II

Preliminary and Ancillary Orders in or after Proceedings for Judicial Separation

5.

Application (

sections 6

to

14

).

6.

Preliminary orders in proceedings for judicial separation.

7.

Maintenance pending suit orders.

8.

Periodical payments and lump sum orders.

9.

Property adjustment orders.

10.

Miscellaneous ancillary orders.

11.

Financial compensation orders.

12.

Pension adjustment orders.

13.

Preservation of pension entitlements after judicial separation.

14.

Orders extinguishing succession rights on judicial separation.

15.

Orders for sale of property.

15A.

Orders for provision for spouse out of estate of other spouse.

16.

Provisions relating to certain orders under

sections 7

to

13

and

18

.

17.

Retrospective periodical payments orders.

18.

Variation, etc., of certain orders under this Part.

19.

Restriction in relation to orders for benefit of dependent members of the family.

20.

Transmission of periodical payments through District Court clerk.

21.

Application of maintenance pending suit and periodical payment orders to certain members

of Defence Forces.

22.

Amendment of Enforcement of Court Orders Act, 1940.

PART III

Relief after Divorce or Separation Outside State

23.

Relief orders where marriage dissolved, or spouses legally separated outside State.

24.

Maintenance pending relief orders.

25.

Orders for provision for spouse out of estate of other spouse.

26.

Appropriateness of making relief orders in State.

27.

Jurisdiction of court to make relief orders.

28.

Restriction of jurisdiction of court to make relief orders.

PART IV

Declarations as to Marital Status

29.

Declarations as to marital status.

30.

Provisions supplementary to

section 29

.

PART V

Marriage

31.

Age of marriage.

32.

Notification of intention to marry.

33.

Exemption of certain marriages from

sections 31

(1)

and

32

(1)

.

(Repealed)

34.

Abolition of right to petition for jactitation of marriage.

PART VI

Miscellaneous

35.

Powers of court in relation to transactions intended to prevent or reduce relief.

36.

Determination of questions between spouses in relation to property.

37.

Payments to be made without deduction of income tax.

38.

Jurisdiction of courts and venue.

39.

Exercise of jurisdiction by court in relation to nullity.

40.

Notice of proceedings under Act.

41.

Secured maintenance orders.

42.

Lump sum maintenance orders.

43.

Amendment of Act of 1976.

44.

Discharge of orders under Act of 1976.

45.

Amendment of Maintenance Act, 1994.

46.

Custody of dependent members of the family after decree of nullity.

47.

Social reports in family law proceedings.

48.

Property of engaged couples.

49.

Income tax treatment of persons divorced outside State.

50.

Exemption of certain transfers from stamp duty.

51.

Exemption of certain transfers from capital acquisitions tax.

52.

Capital gains tax treatment of certain disposals by spouses.

53.

Abatement and postponement of probate tax on property the subject of an order under

section 25

.

54.

Amendment of Family Home Protection Act, 1976, and Act of 1989.

55.

Amendment of Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act, 1991.

SCHEDULE

Enactments Repealed

Number

26

of

1995