Civil Partnership Act 2004

Circumstances in which orders under this Part may be made

34 (1) Either civil partner in a subsisting civil partnership may apply to the court for an order under this Part on the ground that the other civil partner (“the respondent”)—

(a) has failed to provide reasonable maintenance for the applicant, or

(b) has failed to provide, or to make a proper contribution towards, reasonable maintenance for any child of the family.

(2) The court must not entertain an application under this paragraph unless—

(a) the applicant or the respondent is domiciled in Northern Ireland on the date of the application,

(b) the applicant has been habitually resident there throughout the period of 1 year ending with that date, or

(c) the respondent is resident there on that date.

(3) If, on an application under this paragraph, it appears to the court that—

(a) the applicant or any child of the family to whom the application relates is in immediate need of financial assistance, but

(b) it is not yet possible to determine what order, if any, should be made on the application,

the court may make an interim order.

(4) If, on an application under this paragraph, the applicant satisfies the court of a ground mentioned in sub-paragraph (1), the court may make one or more of the orders set out in paragraph 36.