The Children (Allocation of Proceedings) (Amendment) Order 2001
This Order extends the Children (Allocation of Proceedings) Order 1991 to cover proceedings under section 55A of the Family Law Act 1986 (declarations of parentage), which was inserted by the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000. That section combines proceedings under the former section 56(1)(a) of the 1986 Act and proceedings under the former section 27 of the Child Support Act 1991. It will be possible (but not obligatory, as was the case with proceedings under section 27 of the 1991 Act) to begin proceedings under section 55A of the 1986 Act in a magistrates' court. The Order makes the necessary changes consequential on the introduction of the new section and provides for such proceedings to be transferred to other courts in certain circumstances.