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Order 54

Maintenance of Spouses, Civil Partners and Children

ORDER 54: MAINTENANCE OF SPOUSES, CIVIL PARTNERS AND CHILDREN ^[1]

Definitions.

1. In this Order—

“the Act of 1976” means the Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act 1976 (No. 11 of 1976);

the “Act of 1987” means the Status of Children Act 1987 (No. 26 of 1987);

the “Act of 1995” means the Family Law Act 1995 (No. 26 of 1995);

the “Act of 1996” means the Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996 (No. 33 of 1996);

the “Act of 2010” means the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 (No. 24 of 2010);

the “Act of 2015” means the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 (No. 9 of 2015);

“competent authority” has the meaning assigned to it in Order 98.

Venue.

2.(1) Subject to the provisions of Order 41B, proceedings under the Act of 1976 or under the Act of 2010 may be brought, heard or determined at any sitting of the Court for the court area where either party to the proceedings ordinarily resides or carries on any profession, business or occupation.

(2) Where however the Clerk, having consulted the Judge for the time being assigned to the district within which such area is situate, certifies on a summons or a notice of application that the proceedings are urgent, the summons or notice may be issued for, and the proceedings may be heard and determined at, any sitting of the Court in that district.

Hearing to be otherwise than in public.

3. Proceedings under the Act of 1976 or the Act of 2010 shall be heard otherwise than in public.

Applications for maintenance orders.

4.(1) An application for a maintenance order under:

(a) section 5(1)(a) of the Act of 1976;

(b) section 5(1)(b) of the Act of 1976;

(d) section 5A(2) of the Act of 1976 (inserted by section 18 of the Act of 1987),

(e) section 5B(2) of the Act of 1976 (inserted by section 73 of the Act of 2015),

(f) section 5C(2) of the Act of 1976 (inserted by section 73 of the Act of 2015),

(g) section 45(1) of the Act of 2010 by a civil partner for a maintenance order,

(h) section 175 of the Act of 2010 by a qualified cohabitant,

(i) by a spouse or parent under section 21A(1) of the Act of 1976 (inserted by section 21 of the Act of 1987), for a lump sum order in respect of the expenses incidental to the birth or funeral of a dependent child, or

(j) by a civil partner under section 67A(1) of the Act of 2010 (inserted by section 147 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015) for a lump sum order in respect of the expenses incidental to the birth or funeral of a dependent child,

must be preceded by the completion by the applicant of an application form in the Form 54.1, Schedule C, which must be submitted to the Clerk. Upon receipt of the completed application form, the Clerk will issue a maintenance summons in the Form 54.2 , Schedule C. The maintenance summons, and a copy of the application form must be served on the respondent by the applicant.

(2) The order of the Court granting such application for periodic maintenance may be in the Form 54.5, 54.6, 54.7, 54.8 Schedule C, as appropriate, with the necessary modifications where the order is made under the 2010 Act.

(3) A lump sum order under Section 21A(1)of the Act of 1976 or, as the case may be, section 67A(1) of the Act of 2010, may be in the Form 54.15, Schedule C, with the necessary modifications where the order is made under the 2010 Act.

(4) Where, under the powers conferred by section 42 of the Act of 1995 or, as the case ma\y be, under the powers conferred by section 51 of the Act of 2010, an order is made in the District Court providing for the making of a lump sum payment or lump sum payments, the order of the Court may be in the Form 54.24, 54.25, 54.26 or 54.27 Schedule C as the case may be, with the necessary modifications where the order is made under the 2010 Act.

Application to discharge or vary maintenance order.

5.(1) An application:

(a) by a maintenance debtor for the discharge of a maintenance order under section 6(1)(a) of the Act of 1976, or

(b) by either party to the proceedings under section 6(1)(b) of the Act of 1976 to discharge or vary a maintenance order made by the District Court, or

(d) by the maintenance creditor, the maintenance debtor or the Clerk on whose application the order was made, for an order discharging or varying an attachment of earnings order under section 17(1) of the Act of 1976, or

(e) by either party to the proceedings under section 46 of the Act of 2010 to discharge, vary or terminate a maintenance order made by the District Court, or

(f) by either party to the proceedings under section 173(6) of the Act of 2010 to vary or discharge an order or to suspend or revive a provision of an order made under section 175 of the Act of 2010, or

(g) by the maintenance creditor, the maintenance debtor or the Clerk on whose application the order was made, for an order discharging or varying an attachment of earnings order under section 183(1) of the Act of 2010,

must be preceded by the completion by the applicant of an application form in the Form 54.9, Schedule C, which must be submitted to the Clerk. Upon receipt of the completed application form, the Clerk shall issue a maintenance summons in the Form 54.2, Schedule C. The maintenance summons and a copy of the application form must be served on the maintenance debtor and on any other person who would be affected by the making of the order sought by the maintenance creditor.

(2) The order of the Court on the application may be in the Form 54.10 or 54.12 , Schedule C, with the necessary modifications where the order is made under the 2010 Act.

Interim order.

6. An interim order made by the Court under:

(a) section 7 of the Act of 1976, or
(b) section 47 of the Act of 2010,

may be in the Form 54.13 Schedule C, with any necessary adaptations.

Clerk to send copy of order.

7.(1) Where the Court makes a maintenance order, an order varying, discharging or discharging part of such order, an interim order or a lump sum order in respect of the birth or funeral expenses of a dependent child, the Clerk shall give to, or send by registered prepaid post to the maintenance debtor or to the respondent party (as the case may be) a copy of the order so made.

(2) A copy of an order mentioned in sub-rule (1) given or sent to a maintenance debtor must have endorsed on it, or be accompanied by a notice containing the following statement:

“This order is made by the District Court. If you the maintenance debtor fail to make a payment due under this order, you may be liable to imprisonment for contempt of court.

In certain limited circumstances (including a material change of circumstances since the order was made or last varied), the District Court can vary the terms of this order. If you believe that such circumstances arise and are concerned that you may not be able to comply with the terms of this order and would like to apply for a variation, you should consult a solicitor or contact the District Court Clerk at .......”.

Application for direction that payments be made to Clerk.

8. An application under section 9(1)(b) of the Act of 1976 or, as the case may be, section 50(1)(b) of the Act of 2010, for a direction that payments under a maintenance order, a variation order or an interim order be made to the Clerk may be made ex parte. Notice of such application in the Form 54.16 Schedule C, signed by the maintenance creditor or by his or her solicitor, must be lodged with the Clerk at least 48 hours prior to the date of the intended application. The order of the Court granting the application may be in the Form 54.17 Schedule C, with any necessary adaptations.

Payments to the Clerk.

9.(1) Where the Court directs that payments under a maintenance order, a variation order or an interim order shall be made to the Clerk, such Clerk must send a notice in the Form 54.18 Schedule C, with any necessary adaptations, by prepaid ordinary post to the maintenance debtor indicating the place at which and the days and hours during which payments under the order should be made.

(2) The Clerk shall give a receipt to the maintenance debtor for each payment made by him or her and shall transmit such payment to the maintenance creditor or, if authorised in writing by the maintenance creditor so to do, the Clerk may transmit the payment to the competent authority.

Application to discharge direction.

10. An application under section 9(3) of the Act of 1976 or, as the case may be, section 50(3) of the Act of 2010, by a maintenance debtor to have a direction under section 9(1) of the Act of 1976 or, as the case may be, section 50(1) of the Act of 2010, discharged must be preceded by the issue and service upon the maintenance creditor of a summons in the Form 54.19 Schedule C. The order of the Court granting the application may be in the Form 54.20 Schedule C, with any necessary adaptations.

Recovery of arrears.

11.(1) Where payments (whether to be made to the maintenance creditor or to a Clerk) under a maintenance order, a variation order or an interim order are in arrears, the maintenance creditor may apply to the Clerk to issue a summons for service by the maintenance creditor under section 9A of the Act of 1976 (or, as the case may be, section 52A of the Act of 2010) in accordance with Order 57.

(2) Where payments to the Clerk under a maintenance order, a variation order or an interim order are in arrears, and such Clerk receives a request in writing from the maintenance creditor to take such steps as he or she considers reasonable to recover such arrears, such Clerk may:

(a) make application under section 10 of the Act of 1976 (or, as the case may be, section 53 of the Act of 2010) for an attachment of earnings order in accordance with the provisions of Order 56, or

(b) make application under section 8 of the Enforcement of Court Orders Act 1940 in accordance with the provisions of Order 57, or

(c) under section 9A of the Act of 1976 (or, as the case may be, section 52A of the Act of 2010), in accordance with the provisions of Order 57, in which case, the request in writing may be in the Form 57.3, Schedule C .

(3) Where payments referred to in sub-rule (2) are in arrears and the Clerk has received no request to recover the arrears, such Clerk may in his or her discretion, having considered the extent of the arrears and any other relevant matter, notify the maintenance creditor of the means of enforcement available in respect of the order.

Service of summonses.

12.(1) A summons (and any document required to accompany it) required by this Order to be served must be served upon the person to whom it is directed in accordance with the provisions of Order 41 at least 14 days before the date of the sitting of the Court to which the summons is returnable.

(2) Save where service has been effected by the Clerk, a statutory declaration as to service of the summons (and any other document concerned) must be lodged with the Clerk at least two days before the said date of hearing.

Rules to apply to orders for maintenance pending suit etc.

13. Where the Clerk receives a copy—

(a) of an order for maintenance pending suit, of a periodical payments order or of a secured periodical payments order made under the Act of 1995, or of any such order as aforesaid as affected by an order under section 18 of the Act of 1995,

(b) of an order for maintenance pending suit, of a periodical payments order or a secured periodical payments order made under the Act of 1996 or of any such order as aforesaid as affected by an order under section 22 of the Act of 1996, or

(c) of an order for maintenance pending suit, of a periodical payments order or of a secured periodical payments order made under the Act of 2010,

from the Registrar of the Court which made that order, and payments under the order are directed to be made to the District Court Clerk (as provided for in section 20 of the Act of 1995 and in section 28 of the Act of 1996 (or, as the case may be, section 50, or section 50 as applied by section 134 of the Act of 2010)), such Clerk shall register particulars of the order and shall proceed in relation thereto as if it were a maintenance order made at a sitting of the District Court for the district court area to which that Clerk is assigned.

Orders to secure payments.

14.(1) Where the Court has made an order providing for periodical payments by way of support or maintenance by a maintenance debtor to a maintenance creditor, an application may be made to the Court on a date subsequent to the date on which such order is made pursuant to the provisions of section 41 of the Act of 1995 or, as the case may be, section 52 of the Act of 2010, by any person having an interest in the proceedings to secure the said payments to the maintenance creditor.

(2) Such application must be preceded by the issue and service of a notice in the Form 54.22 Schedule C. The order of the Court granting such application may be in the Form 54.23 Schedule C.

Stay on certain orders the subject of appeal.

15.(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Order 25, rule 9(4) and Order 101, and that an appellant has entered into a recognizance of appeal, an appeal from an order under—

(i) section 11(2)(b) of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964, (No. 7 of 1964),
(ii) section 5, 5A or 7 of the Act of 1976, or
(iii) section 45 or 47 of the Act of the Act of 2010

shall, if the Court so determines (but not otherwise), stay the operation of the order.

(2) An application to the Court to stay the operation of an order such as is mentioned in sub-rule (1), may be made following the service and lodgment of a notice of appeal and lodgment of the recognizance for appeal and when made otherwise than upon the occasion of the making of those orders must be preceded by the issue of a notice in the Form 54.28 which must be served upon the respondent to the application two days before the hearing of the application. The order of the Court granting the stay may be in the Form 54.29, with any necessary adaptations.

Report under section 47 of the Act of 1976.

16.(1) An application to the Court by a party to make an order giving directions for the purpose of procuring a report in writing on any question affecting the welfare of a party to the proceedings or any other person to whom they relate may be included in writing in the application form or summons, or made at the hearing.

(2) Where the Court grants an application for an order mentioned in sub-rule (1), or makes such an order of its own motion, the order requisitioning the report may be in the Form 58.50, Schedule C.

[1] Order 54 substituted in full by S.I. 221of 2025, effective 3 June 2025.

Gaeilge

General Amendment	S.I. No. 581 of 2009: District Court (Combined Court Offices) Rules 2009
General Amendment	S.I. No. 99 of 2013: District Court (Recording of Proceedings) Rules 2013
Schedule of Costs	S.I. No. 123 of 2016: District Court (Solicitors’ costs) Rules 2016
Order 1	Sittings
Order 2	Adjournment of proceedings and of the court
Order 3	Language
Order 4	Mode of Address
Order 5	Judges' robes : S.I. No. 77 of 2015
Order 6	Right of Audience
Order 7	Minors And Other Persons Under Disability
Amendment to Order 7	S.I. No. 526 of 2004: District Court (Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act, 2003) Rules 2004
Amendment to Order 7	S.I. No. 258 of 2005: District Court (Funds in Court) Rules 2005
Order 8	Tendering Of Evidence : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 10	Service Of Documents In Criminal Proceedings : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 11	Service Out Of The Jurisdiction: S.I. No. 635 Of 2005
Amendment to Order 11	S.I. No. 367 of 2009: District Court (Service in Member States of Judicial and Extra-judicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters) Rules 2009
Amendment to Order 11	S.I. No. 145 of 2019: District Court (Service) (No. 2) Rules 2019
Amendment to Order 12	S.I. No. 598 of 2014: District Court (General) Rules 2014
Amendment to Order 12	S.I. No. 167 of 2018: District Court (Extension of Time) Rules 2018
Order 12A	Funds In Court : S.I. No. 258 Of 2005
Order 12B	Recording Of Proceedings : S.I. No. 99 Of 2013

Order 13	Venue
Amendment to Order 13	S.I. No. 203 of 2007: District Court (Criminal Justice Act 2006) Rules 2007
Amendment to Order 13	S.I. No. 41 of 2008: District Court (Criminal Justice Act 2007) Rules 2008
Order 14	Admission To Court And Publication Of Proceedings : S.I. No. 33 Of 2010
Order 15	Issue Of Summonses Alleging Offences : S.I. No. 167 Of 2005
Amendment to Order 15	S.I. No. 557 of 2010: District Court (Summonses) Rules 2010
Order 16	Issue Of Warrants Charging Offences
Amendment to Order 16	S.I. No. 119 of 2005: District Court (European Arrest Warrant) Rules, 2005
Amendment to Order 16	S.I. No. 238 of 2006: District Court (Order 16) Rules 2006
Amendment to Order 16	S.I. No. 260 of 2010: District Court (Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009) Rules 2010
Order 17	Procedure On Arrest : S.I. No. 194 Of 2001
Amendment to Order 17	S.I. No. 203 of 2007: District Court (Criminal Justice Act 2006) Rules 2007
Amendment to Order 17	S.I. No. 41 of 2008: District Court (Criminal Justice Act 2007) Rules 2008
Amendment to Order 17	S.I. No. 105 of 2009: District Court (Criminal Justice Act 2006) Rules 2009
Amendment to Order 17	S.I. No. 33 of 2010: District Court (Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009) Rules 2010
Order 18	Procedure On Admitting To Bail : S.I. No. 194 Of 2001
Amendment to Order 18	S.I. No. 105 of 2009: District Court (Criminal Justice Act 2006) Rules 2009
Amendment to Order 18	S.I. No. 41 of 2008: District Court (Criminal Justice Act 2007) Rules 2008
Amendment to Order 18	S.I. No. 33 of 2010: District Court (Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009) Rules 2010
Amendment to Order 18	S.I. No. 260 of 2010: District Court (Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009) Rules 2010
Order 19	Remands By The Court : S.I. No. 194 Of 2001
Amendment to Order 19	S.I. No. 585 of 2011: District Court (Criminal Procedure Act 2010) Rules 2011
Amendment to Order 19	S.I. No. 149 of 2016: District Court (Amendment) Rules 2016
Order 20	Arrest Of Persons In Contravention Of Conditions Of Bail Recognisances : S.I. No. 194 Of 2001
Amendment to Order 20	S.I. No. 260 of 2010: District Court (Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009) Rules 2010
Amendment to Order 20	S.I. No. 565 of 2018: District Court (Bail) Rules 2018
Order 21	Attendance Of Witnesses
Amendment to Order 21	S.I. No. 94 of 2010: District Court (Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008) Rules 2010
Order 22	Procedure On Accused's Failure To Appear
Amendment to Order 22	S.I. No. 498 of 2008: District Court (Bench Warrants) Rules 2008
Order 23	Trial Of Summary Offences : S.I. No. 19 Of 2016
Order 23A	Criminal Law (Insanity) Act, 2006 : S.I. No. 727 Of 2007
Amendment to Order 23A	S.I. No. 154 of 2011: District Court (Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2010) Rules 2011
Order 24	Proceedings Relating to Indictable Offences : S.I. No. 226 of 2019
Order 25	Issue Of Warrants In Execution Of Court Orders : S.I. No. 41 Of 1998
Amendment to Order 25	S.I. No. 19 of 2016: District Court (Fines) Rules 2015
Order 26	Endorsement, Addressing, Execution, Re-Issue Of Warrants
Amendment to Order 26	S.I. No. 203 of 2007: District Court (Criminal Justice Act 2006) Rules 2007
Amendment to Order 26	S.I. No. 149 of 2016: District Court (Amendment) Rules 2016
Order 27	Estreatment Of Recognisances Forfeiture Of Money Lodged : S.I. No. 194 Of 2001
Amendment to Order 27	S.I. No. 260 of 2010: District Court (Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009) Rules 2010
Amendment to Order 27	S.I. No. 41 of 2008: District Court (Criminal Justice Act 2007) Rules 2008
Amendment to Order 27	S.I. No. 225 of 2019: District Court (Estreatment) Rules 2019
Order 28	Recognisances Under The Probation Of Offenders Act, 1907
Amendment to Order 28	S.I. No. 544 of 2006: District Court (Probation of Offenders) Rules 2006
Order 28A	Proceedings Under Part 10 Of The Criminal Justice Act 2006 : S.I. No. 203 Of 2007
Amendment to Order 28A	S.I. No. 25 of 2008: District Court (Criminal Justice Act 2006) (No. 2) Rules 2008
Amendment to Order 28A	S.I. No. 105 of 2009: District Court (Criminal Justice Act 2006) Rules 2009
Amendment to Order 28A	S.I. No. 260 of 2010: District Court (Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009) Rules 2010
Order 29	Extradition
Order 30	Community Service
Amendment to Order 30	S.I. No. 313 of 2007: District Court (Community Service) Rules 2007
Order 31	Proceedings under Criminal Justice Act 1984, etc.
Order 31A	Proceedings Under The Police (Property) Act, 1897
Amendment to 31A	S.I. No. 94 of 2010: District Court (Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008) Rules 2010
Order 31B	Intellectual Property : S.I. No. 421 Of 2010
Order 32	Misuse Of Drugs
Order 33	Compensation Orders
Amendment to Order 33	S.I. No. 539 of 2004: District Court (Children) Rules, 2004
Amendment to Order 33	S.I. No. 106 of 2009: District Court (Consumer Protection Act 2007) Rules 2009
Order 34	Miscellaneous Search Warrants : S.I. No. 216 Of 1999
Amendment to Order 34	S.I. No. 700 of 2004: District Court (Food Safety) Rules 2004
Amendment to Order 34	S.I. No. 207 of 2002: District Court (Company Law Enforcement) Rules 2002
Amendment to Order 34	S.I. No. 412 of 2003: District Court (Theft and Fraud Offences) Rules, 2003
Amendment to Order 34	S.I. No. 411 of 2004: District Court (Intellectual Property) Rules, 2004
Amendment to Order 34	S.I. No. 322 of 2008: District Court (Search Warrants) Rules 2008
Amendment to Order 34	S.I. No. 119 of 2005: District Court (European Arrest Warrant) Rules, 2005
Amendment to Order 34	S.I. No. 106 of 2009: District Court (Consumer Protection Act 2007) Rules 2009
Amendment to Order 34	S.I. No. 585 of 2011: District Court (Criminal Procedure Act 2010) Rules 2011
Amendment to Order 34	S.I. No. 94 of 2010: District Court (Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008) Rules 2010
Amendment to Order 34	S.I. No. 536 of 2011: District Court (Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010) Rules 2011
Amendment to Order 34	S.I. No. 653 of 2011: District Court (Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010) Rules 2011
Amendment to Order 34	S.I. No. 480 of 2018: District Court (Companies Act 2014: search warrants) Rules 2018
Order 34A	Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009 : S.I. No. 314 Of 2010
Order 35	Certified Copies Of Orders And Of Other Documents : S.I. No. 41 Of 1998
Amendment to Order 35	S.I. No. 92 of 2009: District Court (Forms) Rules 2009
Order 36	Costs And Witnesses' Expenses
Order 37	Proceedings Involving Children Or Young Persons : S.I. No. 539 Of 2004
Amendment to Order 37	S.I. No. 666 of 2004: District Court (Children) Rules 2004
Amendment to Order 37	S.I. No. 152 of 2007: District Court (Children Summonses) Rules 2007
Amendment to Order 37	S.I. No. 408 of 2007: District Court (Children) Rules 2007
Amendment to Order 37	S.I. No. 567 of 2016: District Court (Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Act 2014) Rules 2016
Order 38	Miscellaneous Matters : S.I. No. 687 Of 2005
Amendment to Order 38	S.I. No. 703 of 2005: District Court (Taxes consolidation Act 1997) (Amendment) Rules 2005
Amendment to Order 38	S.I. No. 47 of 2006: District Court (Criminal Justice Act 1994, section 38) Rules 2006
Amendment to Order 38	S.I. No. 653 of 2011: District Court (Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010) Rules 2011

Interpretation	Interpretation of terms : S.I. No. 17 of 2014
Provisions Overview	S.I. No. 17 of 2014: District Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2014 - provisions overview
Order 39	General Rules : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 40	Beginning Civil Proceedings In The Court : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Amendment to Order 40	S.I. No. 513 of 2016: District Court (Issue of Civil Proceedings) Rules 2016
Order 40A	Personal Injuries Proceedings : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Amendment to Order 40A	S.I. No. 599 of 2014: District Court (Personal Injuries) Rules 2014
Amendment to Order 40A	S.I. No. 513 of 2016: District Court (Issue of Civil Proceedings) Rules 2016
Amendment to Order 40A	S.I. No. 102 of 2017: District Court (Order 40A) Rules 2017
Amendment to Order 40A	S.I. No. 327 of 2019: District Court (Personal Injuries: Section 8 Notices) Rules 2019
Order 40B	Landlord And Tenant Proceedings (Ejectment) : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 40C	Procedure In Statutory Applications By Notice Of Application : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 40D	Procedure In Statutory Appeals By Notice Of Appeal To The Court : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 40E	Proceedings Begun By The Issue Of A Summons In Matters Other Than Criminal Matters* : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 40F	Intellectual Property
Order 41A	Service Of Documents In Civil Proceedings - Service Of Documents Outside The State With The Permission Of The Court : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Amendment to Order 41A	S.I. No. 471 of 2018: District Court (Service) Rules 2018
Order 41B	Service Of Documents In Civil Proceedings - Service Of Documents Outside The State Without The Permission Of The Court : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Amendment to Order 41B	S.I. No. 617 of 2015: District Court (Jurisdiction and the Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters) Rules 2015
Order 43	Joining Claims And Parties : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 44	Applications By Notice Of Motion : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 45	Lodgments And Tenders In Lieu Of Lodgment : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 45A	Security For Costs : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 45B	Discovery And Inspection Of Documents : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 45C	Application To Have A Claim Forwarded To The Circuit Court Or To The High Court : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 45D	Admissions : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 45E	Amendment : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Amendment to Order 45E	S.I. No. 598 of 2014: District Court (General) Rules 2014
Order 46	Attendance Of Witnesses And Production Of Documents : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 47	Judgment In Default In Debt Claims : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 47A	Judgment In Default In Non-Debt Claims : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 47B	Discontinuance And Withdrawal : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 49A	Case Management : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 49B	Mediation And Other Alternative Dispute Resolution
Order 50	Affidavits In Civil Proceedings : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 51	Execution And Enforcement Of Judgments : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 51A	Enforcement Of Judgments And Orders : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Amendment to Order 51A	S.I. No. 617 of 2015: District Court (Jurisdiction and the Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters) Rules 2015
Order 51B	Interpleader : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 51C	European Enforcement Orders : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 52	European Account Preservation Order : S.I. No. 405 Of 2017
Order 53	Costs : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 53A	Small Claims Procedure : S.I. No. 17 Of 2014
Order 53B	European Small Claims Procedure (For Cross-Border Small Claims Within The European Union) : S.I. No. 315 Of 2018
Order 54	Maintenance of Spouses, Civil Partners and Children
Order 54A	Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 : S.I. No. 17 Of 2016
Order 56	Attachment Of Earnings : S.I. No. 42 Of 1998
Order 57	Proceedings Under: Section 8 of the Enforcement of Court Orders Act 1940, etc.
Order 58	Custody and Guardianship of Children, Declaration of Parentage
Order 59	Domestic Violence
Order 60	Protection of the Family Home : S.I. No. 42 of 1998
Order 61	Use Of Blood Tests In Determining Parentage
Order 61A	Section 40, Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004: S.I. No. 141 of 2015
Amendment to Order 61A	S.I. No. 79 of 2019: District Court (Domestic Violence) Rules 2019
Order 63	Auctioneers and house agents
Order 64	Betting Act, 1931
Order 65	Fisheries
Order 66	Gaming and lotteries
Order 67	General dealers
Order 68	Licensing Acts 1833 to 2018 : S.I. No. 566 of 2018
Order 69	Restaurant certificates and declarations as to suitability of premises
Order 70	Objections to the first grant of wine retailers' on-licences
Order 71	Special exemption orders : S.I. No. 174 of 2009
Order 72	General exemption orders : S.I. No. 174 of 2009
Amendment to Order 72	S.I. No. 566 of 2018: District Court (Intoxicating Liquor) Rules 2018
Order 73	Exemptions for special events
Order 74	Exemptions for licensed business on Sunday afternoons and Saint Patrick's day
Order 75	Exemptions for unlicensed business on Sunday mornings and Saint Patrick's day
Order 76	Occasional licences
Amendment to Order 76	S.I. No. 566 of 2018: District Court (Intoxicating Liquor) Rules 2018
Order 77	Ad-interim transfers of licences : S.I. No. 123 of 1998
Order 78	Transfers of licences held by nominees
Order 79	Certificates of transfer
Order 80	Objections to renewal of intoxicating liquor licences, forms of renewal certificate, forms of renewal certificate, recording renewals of licences
Order 81	Annual licensing court
Order 82	Register of licences
Order 83	Registration of clubs and granting of club authorisations
Order 84	Child care
Amendment to Order 84	S.I. No. 5 of 2006: District Court (Children) Rules 2006
Amendment to Order 84	S.I. No. 469 of 2008: District Court (Child Care) Rules 2008
Amendment to Order 84	S.I. No. 143 of 2015: District Court (Child Care) Rules 2015
Order 84A	Mental Health : S.I. No. 97 of 2007
Order 85	Water disconnection rules
Order 86	Public dancing
Order 87	Public music and singing
Order 88	Street and house to house collections
Order 89	Wildlife
Order 90	Air Navigation (Eurocontrol)
Order 90A	Railway Infrastructure : S.I. No. 534 of 2004
Order 91	Control of dogs
Order 92	Fire services
Order 93	Housing (private rented dwellings)
Order 93A	Applications under the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 : S.I. No. 162 of 2010
Order 93B	Applications to extend time for delivery of annual return under section 343 of the Companies Act 2014 : S.I. No. 256 of 2015
Order 93C	Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2020: S.I. No. 431 of 2020
Order 94	Irish nationality and citizenship
Order 95	Malicious injuries
Order 96	Protection of the environment and control of pollution
Order 96A	Food safety : S.I. No. 700 of 2004
Order 96B	Orders concerning retail premises ... Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 2003 ... Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010 : S.I. No. 536 of 2011
Order 96C	Criminal Justice Act 2006, Part 11 : S.I. No. 314 of 2007
Amendment to Order 96C	S.I. No. 408 of 2007: District Court (Children) Rules 2007
Order 97	Road traffic : S.I. No. 235 of 2018
Order 98	Social welfare
Amendment to Order 98	S.I. No. 17 of 2016: District Court (Children and Family Relationships Act 2015) Rules 2016
Order 99A	Procedure under - Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1997 - Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 : S.I. No. 506 of 2016
Order 99B	Employment Equality Act 1998 : S.I. No. 263 of 2006

Order 101	Appeals to the circuit court
Amendment to Order 101	S.I. No. 484 of 2003: District Court (Appeals to the Circuit Court) Rules 2003
Amendment to Order 101	S.I. No. 80 of 2005: District Court (Appeals to the Circuit Court) Rules 2005
Amendment to Order 101	S.I. No. 41 of 2008: District Court (Criminal Justice Act 2007) Rules 2008
Amendment to Order 101	S.I. No. 405 of 2017: District Court (European Account Preservation Order) Rules 2017
Order 102	Cases stated
Amendment to Order 102	S.I. No. 398 of 2006: District Court (Case Stated) Rules 2006

District Court Rules

Order 54

Maintenance of Spouses, Civil Partners and Children

ORDER 54: MAINTENANCE OF SPOUSES, CIVIL PARTNERS AND CHILDREN ^[1]

Definitions.

Venue.

Hearing to be otherwise than in public.

Applications for maintenance orders.

Application to discharge or vary maintenance order.

Interim order.

Clerk to send copy of order.

Application for direction that payments be made to Clerk.

Payments to the Clerk.

Application to discharge direction.

Recovery of arrears.

Service of summonses.

Rules to apply to orders for maintenance pending suit etc.

Orders to secure payments.

Stay on certain orders the subject of appeal.

Report under section 47 of the Act of 1976.

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District Court Rules

Order 54

Maintenance of Spouses, Civil Partners and Children

ORDER 54: MAINTENANCE OF SPOUSES, CIVIL PARTNERS AND CHILDREN [1]﻿

Definitions.

Venue.

Hearing to be otherwise than in public.

Applications for maintenance orders.

Application to discharge or vary maintenance order.

Interim order.

Clerk to send copy of order.

Application for direction that payments be made to Clerk.

Payments to the Clerk.

Application to discharge direction.

Recovery of arrears.

Service of summonses.

Rules to apply to orders for maintenance pending suit etc.

Orders to secure payments.

Stay on certain orders the subject of appeal.

Report under section 47 of the Act of 1976.

ORDER 54: MAINTENANCE OF SPOUSES, CIVIL PARTNERS AND CHILDREN ^[1]