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Updated to 21 November 2025 (Act No. 11 of 2025 and S.I. No. 550 of 2025)

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Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996
No. 33 of 1996

Contents

Commencement

Section Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
 Commencement Information
Whole Act 27 February 1997 Commenced pursuant to s. 1(2)

Amendments and other effects

How AffectedAffecting Provision
Trans. of functns. under. S. I. No. 298 of 1997, art. 4(1)(a), schedule
Transfer of functions and references construed S.I. No. 297 of 1997, arts. 1(2), 3, 4(a), schedule
S. 2(1) amended 6/2018, ss. 1(2), 47(a)
S. 2(1) definitions amended 24/2010, ss. 1(2), 150
  18/2002, ss. 1(3), 57(2)
S. 5 amended 48/2024, ss. 1(2), 83(a)
S. 5(1)(a) amended with transitional provisions 37/2019, ss. 1(2), 3(1)(a), 3(2)
S. 5(1A) inserted with transitional provisions 37/2019, ss. 1(2), 3(1)(b), 3(2)
S. 6(2)(b) amended 27/2017, ss. 1(2), 26(a)(i)
S. 6(4)(a) amended 27/2017, ss. 1(2), 26(a)(ii)
S. 6(4)(b) amended 27/2017, ss. 1(2), 26(a)(iii)
S. 6(5) deleted 27/2017, ss. 1(2), 26(a)(iv)
S. 6A inserted 48/2024, ss. 1(2), 83(b)
S. 7(2)(b) amended 27/2017, ss. 1(2), 26(b)(i)
S. 7(4)(a) amended 27/2017, ss. 1(2), 26(b)(ii)
S. 7(4)(b) amended 27/2017, ss. 1(2), 26(b)(iii)
S. 7(5) deleted 27/2017, ss. 1(2), 26(b)(iv)
S. 10A inserted 48/2024, ss. 1(2), 83(c)
S. 11(a) substituted 6/2018, ss. 1(2), 47(b)
S. 13(5)(a) amended 24/2010, ss. 1(2), 151(a)
S. 13(5)(b) amended 24/2010, ss. 1(2), 151(b)
S. 14 registration of court order under S.I. No. 52 of 2008, rls. 1, 14(2)
S. 14(3) amended 24/2010, ss. 1(2), 152
S. 14(4A) inserted 14/2008, ss. 1(2), 75(a)
S. 15(1)(d) substituted 6/2018, ss. 1(2), 47(c)
S. 15(1)(e) amended 27/2009, ss. 2, 8(1), schedule 1
S. 16(2)(b) amended 24/2010, ss. 1(2), 153(a)
S. 16(2)(c) amended 24/2010, ss. 1(2), 153(b)
S. 17(1) amended 2/2008, ss. 1(6), 31
S. 17(19) amended 24/2010, ss. 1(2), 154(a)
S. 17(23)(a) amended 24/2010, ss. 1(2), 154(b)
S. 18(2) amended 24/2010, ss. 1(2), 155(a)
S. 18(5) amended 24/2010, ss. 1(2), 155(b)
S. 19(4) amended 24/2010, ss. 1(2), 156
S. 20(2)(b) amended 24/2010, ss. 1(2), 157
S. 22(8) inserted 14/2008, ss. 1(2), 75(b)
S. 31 repealed 39/1997, ss. 1097, 1098, 1102, 1103, schedule 30
S. 32 repealed 22/1997, ss. 5(b), 166(9)
S. 33 repealed 22/1997, s. 127(4)
S. 34 repealed 22/1997, s. 142(3)
S. 35 repealed 22/1997, s. 71(4)
S. 36 repealed 22/1997, s. 143(2)
S. 37(5) inserted 14/2008, ss. 1(2), 75(c)
S. 38 application restricted with prospective effect 31/2004, ss. 1(2), 40(3)-40(10)
S. 38(1) substituted 48/2024, ss. 1(2), 83(d)(i)
S. 38(2) substituted 48/2024, ss. 1(2), 83(d)(ii)
S. 38(2) amended 31/2004, ss. 1(2), 52(a)
S. 38(2A)-(2C) inserted 48/2024, ss. 1(2), 83(d)(iii)
S. 38(3) substituted 48/2024, ss. 1(2), 83(d)(iv)
S. 38(4) repealed 31/2004, ss. 1(2), 52(b)
S. 38(5) substituted 48/2024, ss. 1(2), 83(d)(v)
S. 38(8) inserted 31/2004, ss. 1(2), 52(c)
S. 39(1) application restricted S.I. No. 400 of 2022, regs. 1(2), 7(d)
  S.I. No. 472 of 2001, reg. 3
  S.I. No. 112 of 2005, regs. 1(2), 7(d)
S. 43 amended 27/2017, ss. 1(2), 26(c)
S. 51 repealed 6/2018, ss. 1(2), 3(a)

SIs made under the Act

SectionSIs made under the Act