73.This section provides for the court to consider the position once a conditional order has been made but before it has been made final. By subsection (1), the section applies where the Queen’s Proctor, or anyone who has not been a party to the proceedings, shows that that there is cause (good reason) why the conditional order should not be made final on the ground that material facts were not put before the court. By subsection (2), the court may also consider a case under this section where the civil partner who applied for the conditional order has not taken steps to have this made final within 3 months from the earliest date when such an application could have been made, and the other civil partner applies to the court under this section.
74.Where this section applies, the court may make the order final, rescind the order, direct that further enquiries are to be made, or deal with the case in such other manner as it thinks fit. By subsection (4), the court’s power to make the order final applies even if the prescribed period under section 38 has not yet expired, but is subject to the restrictions imposed in section 48(4) (relating to financial provision in separation cases) and section 63 (restrictions on the court’s powers to make orders affecting children).
Commentary on Sections Part 2 – Civil Partnership: England and Wales.Introduction Chapter 2 – Dissolution, Nullity and Other Proceedings Section 40: Proceedings before order has been made final