
1 
This Order may be cited as the Declarations of Parentage (Allocation of Proceedings) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002 and shall come into operation on 15th April 2002.
2 
In this Order—
 “the Order of 1989” means the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings (Northern Ireland) Order 1989; and
 “petty sessions districts” means the petty sessions districts into which Northern Ireland is divided by order made by the Lord Chancellor under Article 11(2) of the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.
3 
For the purposes of this Order there shall be the following classes of court—
(a) family proceedings courts, being those courts of summary jurisdiction constituted as juvenile courts for the petty sessions districts specified in Schedule 1; and
(b) family care centres, being those county courts specified in Schedule 2.
4 
Proceedings under Article 31B of the Order of 1989 may be commenced in a family proceedings court, a family care centre or the High Court.
5 
A family proceedings court may, upon application by a party or of its own motion, transfer proceedings under Article 31B of the Order of 1989 to a family care centre or the High Court where it considers that—
(a) the proceedings are exceptionally important or complex; or
(b) it would be appropriate for the proceedings to be heard together with other proceedings pending in such a court.
6 
A family care centre may, upon application by a party or of its own motion, transfer proceedings under Article 31B of the 1989 Order to the High Court if it considers that the proceedings are appropriate for determination in that Court.
7 
A family care centre may transfer to a family proceedings court before trial, proceedings which were transferred by that court under Article 5 where it considers that the criterion cited by the court as the reason for transfer does not apply.
8 
The High Court may transfer to a family proceedings court before trial, proceedings which were transferred by that court under Article 5 where it considers that the criterion for transfer no longer applies.
9 
The High Court may transfer to a family care centre, before trial, proceedings which were transferred by that court under Article 6 where it considers that the proceedings are appropriate for determination in that court.
10 
Where proceedings are commenced or transferred in contravention of this Order, the contravention shall not have the effect of making the proceedings invalid and no appeal shall lie against the determination of the proceedings on the basis of such contravention alone.
Irvine of Lairg, C.
Dated 23rd March 2002
SCHEDULE 1
Article 3(a)

 Londonderry
 Ballymena
 Omagh
 Craigavon
 Newry and Mourne
 Ards
 Belfast and Newtownabbey

SCHEDULE 2
Article 3(b)


 Belfast Recorder’s Court
 Londonderry Recorder’s Court
 Craigavon County Court
