MAINTENANCE ORDERS (FACI LITIES FOR ENFORCEMENT) ACT. Act No. 4, 1923. A n A c t t o facilitate t h e e n f o r c e m e n t in N e w S o u t h W a l e s of m a i n t e n a n c e o r d e r s m a d e i n E n g l a n d a n d I r e l a n d a n d c e r t a i n o t h e r p a r t s of H i s Majesty's Dominions and Protectorates, and vice versa. [ A s s e n t e d to, 2 n d O c t o b e r , 1923.] B E it enacted b y t h e K i n g ' s M o s t E x c e l l e n t M a j e s t y , b y a n d w i t h t h e advice a n d consent of t h e L e g i s lative Council a n d L e g i s l a t i v e A s s e m b l y of X e w S o u t h W a l e s in P a r l i a m e n t assembled, a n d b y t h e a u t h o r i t y of t h e same, as follows :— 1 . T h i s A c t m a y be cited as t h e " M a i n t e n a n c e Orders ( F a c i l i t i e s for E n f o r c e m e n t ) A c t , 1 9 2 3 . " 2 . I n t h i s A c t , unless t h e c o n t e x t or s u b j e c t - m a t t e r o t h e r w i s e i n d i c a t e s or requires,—• " Applicant " includes a complainant. " A p p l i c a t i o n " includes a complaint. " C e r t i f i e d c o p y " i n r e l a t i o n to a n order of a c o u r t m e a n s a c o p y of t h e o r d e r certified b y t h e p r o p e r officer of t h e c o u r t to be a t r u e copy. " D e p e n d a n t s " m e a n s s u c h persons as a p e r s o n a g a i n s t w h o m a m a i n t e n a n c e order is m a d e is liable to m a i n t a i n , a c c o r d i n g to t h e laAV in force in t h e p l a c e w h e r e s u c h m a i n t e n a n c e order i s made. " Governor " " G o v e r n o r " includes an A d m i n i s t r a t o r , C o m m i s sioner, R e s i d e n t , or o t h e r officer r e p r e s e n t i n g H i s M a j e s t y in a n y B r i t i s h P r o t e c t o r a t e . " M a i n t e n a n c e o r d e r " m e a n s a n order o t h e r t h a n a n order of affiliation for t h e periodical p a y m e n t of s u m s of m o n e y towards t h e m a i n t e n a n c e of t h e wife or o t h e r d e p e n d a n t s of t h e p e r s o n a g a i n s t w h o m t h e order is m a d e . " P r e s c r i b e d " m e a n s prescribed b y r u l e s u n d e r or b y v i r t u e of t h i s A c t . made " R e c i p r o c a t i n g S t a t e " m e a n s a n y p a r t of H i s M a j e s t y ' s D o m i n i o n s outside t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m to w h i c h t h e I m p e r i a l A c t i n t i t u l e d t h e M a i n t e n a n c e O r d e r s (Facilities for E n f o r c e m e n t ) A c t , 1920, e x t e n d s , or is h e r e a f t e r e x t e n d e d , a n d w h i c h h a s been declared u n d e r section twelve of t h i s A c t to be a r e c i p r o c a t i n g State- for t h e purposes of t h i s A c t . " S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e " m e a n s one of H i s P r i n c i p a l Secretaries of S t a t e for being. Majesty's the time 3 . (1) W h e r e a m a i n t e n a n c e order h a s , w h e t h e r before or after t h e passing of t h i s Act, b e e n m a d e a g a i n s t a n y person by a n y c o u r t in E n g l a n d or I r e l a n d , or in a n y r e c i p r o c a t i n g S t a t e , a n d a certified copy of t h e order h a s been t r a n s m i t t e d b y t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e or bv t h e G o v e r n o r of t h e r e c i p r o c a t i n g S t a t e , as t h e case m a y be, to t h e Governor, t h e G o v e r n o r shall send a copy of t h e order to t h e prescribed officer of a c o u r t in N e w S o u t h W a l e s for r e g i s t r a t i o n ; a n d on receipt thereof, t h e order s h a l l be r e g i s t e r e d in t h e prescribed m a n n e r , a n d shall, from t h e date of s u c h r e g i s t r a t i o n , be of t h e s a m e force a n d effect, a n d , s u b j e c t t o t h e provisions of t h i s A c t , all proceedings m a y be t a k e n on s u c h order as if it h a d b e e n a n order originally obtained in t h e c o u r t in w h i c h it is so registered, a n d t h a t c o u r t s h a l l h a v e power to enforce t h e order a c c o r d i n g l y . ( 2 ) T h e c o u r t in w h i c h a n o r d e r is to be so registered as aforesaid shall, if t h e c o u r t by w h i c h t h e o r d e r was m a d e w a s a c o u r t of superior j u r i s d i c t i o n , be t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t , a n d , if t h e c o u r t w a s n o t a c o u r t of s u p e r i o r j u r i s d i c t i o n , be a c o u r t of s u m m a r y jurisdiction. 4. 4 . Where a court in N e w South Wales has, whether before or a f t e r t h e p a s s i n g of t h i s A c t , m a d e a m a i n t e n a n c e order a g a i n s t a n y person, a n d it is proved t o t h a t c o u r t t h a t t h e person a g a i n s t w h o m t h e order w a s m a d e is r e s i d e n t in E n g l a n d or I r e l a n d or in a r e c i p r o c a t i n g S t a t e , t h e c o u r t shall send to t h e G o v e r n o r , for t r a n s m i s s i o n t o t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e or to t h e G o v e r n o r of t h a t r e c i p r o c a t i n g S t a t e , as t h e case m a y b e , a certified copy of t h e order. 5 . (1) W h e r e a n a p p l i c a t i o n is m a d e t o a c o u r t of s u m m a r y j u r i s d i c t i o n i n N e w S o u t h W a l e s , for a m a i n t e n a n c e order a g a i n s t a n y person, a n d i t is proved t h a t t h a t p e r s o n is r e s i d e n t i n E n g l a n d or I r e l a n d or in a r e c i p r o c a t i n g S t a t e t h e c o u r t m a y , in t h e a b s e n c e of t h a t person, if after h e a r i n g t h e evidence it is satisfied of t h e j u s t i c e of t h e a p p l i c a t i o n , m a k e a n y s u c h order as it m i g h t h a v e m a d e if a s u m m o n s h a d been d u l y served on t h a t person a n d h e h a d failed t o a p p e a r a t t h e h e a r i n g , b u t in s u c h case t h e o r d e r shall be provisional only a n d s h a l l h a v e n o effect u n l e s s a n d u n t i l confirmed b y a c o m p e t e n t c o u r t in E n g l a n d or I r e l a n d or in s u c h r e c i p r o c a t i n g S t a t e as aforesaid, as t h e case m a y be. (2) T h e evidence of a n y w i t n e s s w h o is e x a m i n e d on a n y s u c h a p p l i c a t i o n shall be p u t into w r i t i n g , a n d s u c h deposition s h a l l be r e a d over to a n d signed b y h i m . (3) W h e r e s u c h a n order is m a d e , t h e c o u r t s h a l l send t o t h e G o v e r n o r for t r a n s m i s s i o n to t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e in a case w h e r e t h e person a g a i n s t w h o m t h e o r d e r is m a d e is alleged t o reside in E n g l a n d or I r e l a n d , or to t h e G o v e r n o r of t h e r e c i p r o c a t i n g S t a t e i n w h i c h t h e person a g a i n s t w h o m t h e order is m a d e is alleged t o reside, as t h e case m a y be, t h e depositions so t a k e n , a n d a certified copy of t h e order, t o g e t h e r w i t h a s t a t e m e n t of t h e g r o u n d s on w h i c h t h e m a k i n g of t h e order m i g h t h a v e been opposed if t h e person a g a i n s t w h o m t h e order is m a d e h a d been d u l y served w i t h a s u m m o n s a n d h a d a p p e a r e d a t t h e h e a r i n g , a n d s u c h i n f o r m a t i o n as t h e c o u r t possesses for f a c i l i t a t i n g t h e identification of t h a t person a n d a s c e r t a i n i n g his w h e r e a b o u t s . (4) W h e r e a n y s u c h provisional order h a s c o m e before a c o u r t in E n g l a n d or I r e l a n d or in a r e c i p r o c a t i n g S t a t e , as t h e case m a y be, for confirmation, a n d the t h e order h a s b y t h a t c o u r t b e e n r e m i t t e d to t h e c o u r t of s u m m a r y j u r i s d i c t i o n w h i c h m a d e t h e order for t h e p u r p o s e of taking f u r t h e r evidence, t h a t c o u r t or a n y o t h e r c o u r t of s u m m a r y j u r i s d i c t i o n sitting, a n d a c t i n g for t h e s a m e place shall, after g i v i n g t h e p r e s c r i b e d n o t i c e , proceed to t a k e t h e evidence in like m a n n e r a n d s u b j e c t to the like conditions as t h e evidence in s u p p o r t of t h e original a p p l i c a t i o n . I f u p o n t h e h e a r i n g of s u c h evidence it a p p e a r s to t h e c o u r t t h a t t h e o r d e r o u g h t n o t to h a v e been m a d e , t h e c o u r t m a y rescind t h e order, b u t in a n y o t h e r case t h e depositions shall be sent to t h e G o v e r n o r a n d dealt w i t h in like m a n n e r as t h e original depositions. 1 (5) T h e confirmation of a n order m a d e u n d e r this section shall n o t atfect any p o w e r of a c o u r t of s u m m a r y jurisdiction to vary or rescind t h a t order : P r o v i d e d t h a t on t h e m a k i n g of a v a r y i n g or rescind i n g order t h e c o u r t shall send a certified copy thereof to t h e G o v e r n o r for t r a n s m i s s i o n to t h e S e c r e t a r y of State or to t h e G o v e r n o r of t h e r e c i p r o c a t i n g S t a t e in w h i c h t h e original order was confirmed, as t h e case m a y he : P r o v i d e d also t h a t in t h e case of a n order v a r y i n g an original order t h e order shall n o t h a v e a n y effect u n l e s s a n d u n t i l confirmed in like m a n n e r as t h e original order. (6) T h e a p p l i c a n t shall h a v e t h e same r i g h t of a p p e a l , if a n y , a g a i n s t a refusal to m a k e a provisional order as s u c h person would h a v e h a d a g a i n s t a refusal to m a k e t h e order had a s u m m o n s been d u l y served on t h e person a g a i n s t w h o m t h e order is s o u g h t to be made. 6 . (1) W h e r e a m a i n t e n a n c e order has been m a d e by a c o u r t in E n g l a n d or I r e l a n d or in a r e c i p r o c a t i n g S t a t e , a n d t h e order is provisional only a n d has no effect u n l e s s and u n t i l confirmed by a c o u r t of s u m m a r y jurisdiction in N e w S o u t h W a l e s , a n d a certified copy of t h e order, t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e depositions of witnesses a n d a state m e n t of t h e g r o u n d s on w h i c h t h e order m i g h t h a v e been opposed lias b e e n t r a n s m i t t e d t o t h e Governor, a n d it a p p e a r s to t h e G o v e r n o r t h a t t h e person a g a i n s t wdiom t h e order w a s m a d e is r e s i d e n t in N e w South W a l e s , t h e G o v e r n o r m a y send t h e said d o c u m e n t s t o t h e prescribed officer of a c o u r t of s u m m a r y jurisdiction, with with a r e q u i s i t i o n t h a t a s u m m o n s h e issued calling u p o n t h e person to s h o w cause w h y t h a t order should n o t he confirmed, a n d u p o n receipt of s u c h d o c u m e n t s a n d r e q u i s i t i o n t h e c o u r t shall issue s u c h a s u m m o n s a n d cause it to be served u p o n s u c h person. (2) A t t h e h e a r i n g it shall be open to t h e person o n w h o m t h e s u m m o n s w a s served t o raise a n y defence w h i c h h e m i g h t h a v e raised i n t h e original p r o c e e d i n g h a d h e been a p a r t y t h e r e t o , b u t no o t h e r defence, a n d t h e certificate from t h e c o u r t w h i c h m a d e t h e p r o visional order s t a t i n g t h e g r o u n d s on w h i c h t h e m a k i n g of t h e order m i g h t h a v e been opposed if t h e person a g a i n s t w h o m t h e order was m a d e h a d b e e n a p a r t y t o t h e proceedings s h a l l be conclusive evidence t h a t t h o s e g r o u n d s are g r o u n d s on w h i c h objection m a y be t a k e n . (3) I f a t t h e h e a r i n g t h e person served w i t h t h e s u m m o n s does n o t a p p e a r or, on a p p e a r i n g , fails t o satisfv t h e c o u r t t h a t t h e order o u g h t n o t to be confirmed, t h e c o u r t m a y confirm t h e order e i t h e r w i t h o u t modification or w i t h s u c h modifications as to t h e c o u r t after h e a r i n g t h e evidence m a y seem j u s t . (4) If t h e person a g a i n s t w h o m t h e s u m m o n s was issued a p p e a r s a t t h e h e a r i n g a n d satisfies t h e c o u r t t h a t for t h e p u r p o s e of a n y defence i t is necessary t o r e m i t t h e case to t h e c o u r t w h i c h m a d e t h e provisional o r d e r for t h e t a k i n g of a n y f u r t h e r evidence, t h e c o u r t m a y so r e m i t t h e case a n d a d j o u r n t h e p r o c e e d i n g s for t h e purpose. (5) W h e r e a provisional o r d e r lias b e e n con firmed u n d e r t h i s section, it m a y b e varied or rescinded i n like m a n n e r as if it h a d o r i g i n a l l y b e e n m a d e b y t h e c o n f i r m i n g c o u r t , a n d w h e r e on a n a p p l i c a t i o n for rescission or v a r i a t i o n t h e c o u r t is satisfied t h a t it is necessarv to r e m i t t h e case to t h e c o u r t w h i c h m a d e t h e order for t h e p u r p o s e of t a k i n g a n y f u r t h e r e v i d e n c e , t h e c o u r t m a y so r e m i t t h e case, a n d a d j o u r n t h e p r o ceedings for t h e p u r p o s e . (6) W h e r e a n order h a s b e e n so confirmed, t h e person b o u n d t h e r e b y s h a l l h a v e t h e s a m e r i g h t of a p p e a l , if a n y , a g a i n s t t h e confirmation of t h e order as h e w o u l d h a v e h a d a g a i n s t t h e m a k i n g of t h e o r d e r h a d t h e o r d e r b e e n a n order m a d e by t h e c o u r t confirming t h e order. 7. 7. T h e G o v e r n o r m a y m a k e r e g u l a t i o n s as to t h e m a n n e r i n w h i c h a case can be r e m i t t e d b y a court a u t h o r i s e d to confirm a provisional order to t h e court w h i c h m a d e t h e provisional order, a n d g e n e r a l l y for facilitating communications between such courts. 8 . (1) A c o u r t in which a n order h a s been registered u n d e r t h i s A c t or by w h i c h a n order has been confirmed u n d e r this A c t , a n d t h e officers of such court, shall t a k e all s u c h steps for enforcing t h e order as m a y be prescribed. (2) E v e r y such order shall, w h e r e p r a c t i c a b l e , be enforceable in like m a n n e r as if t h e order were m a d e by t h e c o u r t in which it is so registered, or b y which it is so confirmed, a n d w h e r e n o t p r a c t i c a b l e shall he enforceable in t h e m a n n e r prescribed b y t h e J u s t i c e s A c t , 1902, for enforcing a n order for t h e p a y m e n t of money. 9 . (1) T h e A c t s for t h e t i m e b e i n g in force a n d a p p l i c a b l e to proceedings in respect of m a i n t e n a n c e orders before a c o u r t of s u m m a r y j u r i s d i c t i o n shall a p p l y to proceedings u n d e r t h i s A c t before such c o u r t . (2) T h e G o v e r n o r m a y for t h e p u r p o s e of c a r r y i n g o u t t h e provisions of t h i s A c t m a k e r u l e s for c a r r y i n g o u t t h e p r a c t i c e a n d p r o c e d u r e of courts of s u m m a r y j u r i s d i c t i o n u n d e r this A c t . (3) T h e j u d g e s of t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t shall h a v e p o w e r to m a k e r u l e s for c a r r y i n g o u t t h e practice a n d p r o c e d u r e of t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t u n d e r t h i s A c t . 1 0 . A n y d o c u m e n t p u r p o r t i n g to be- signed b y a j u d g e or officer of a c o u r t in E n g l a n d or I r e l a n d or in a r e c i p r o c a t i n g State shall, u n t i l t h e c o n t r a r y is proved, be d e e m e d to h a v e been so signed w i t h o u t proof of t h e s i g n a t u r e or judicial or official c h a r a c t e r of t h e person a p p e a r i n g to h a v e signed it, a n d t h e officer of a court b y w h o m a d o c u m e n t is signed shall, u n t i l t h e c o n t r a r y is proved, be deemed to h a v e been t h e p r o p e r officer of t h e c o u r t to sign t h e d o c u m e n t . 1 1 . Depositions t a k e n in a c o u r t in E n g l a n d or I r e l a n d or in a r e c i p r o c a t i n g Stare, for t h e p u r p o s e s of this Act, may he received in evidence in proceedings before c o u r t s of s u m m a r v jurisdiction u n d e r t h i s Act. 12. 1 2 . (1) Where the Governor is satisfied that reciprocal provisions have been made by the legislature of any part of His Majesty's Dominions outside the United Kingdom for the enforcement within that part of maintenance orders made by courts within New South Wales, the Governor may, by proclamation published in the Government Gazette, declare such part to be a reciprocating State for the purposes of this Act, and thereupon such part shall become a reciprocating State within the meaning of this Act. (2) A proclamation under this section may be varied or revoked by a subsequent proclamation.
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