Matrimonial Causes Act, 1970 🇳🇬

Nigeria

Preface

Part I – Jurisdiction

1. Institution of matrimonial cause proceedings only under this Act

2. Jurisdiction in matrimonial causes

3. Void marriages and prohibited degrees of consanguinity

4. Marriage of persons within prohibited degrees of affinity

5. Voidable marriage

+5 more sections

Part II – Matrimonial relief

11. Reconciliation

12. Hearing when reconciliation fails

13. Statements, etc., made in course of attempt to effect reconciliation

14. Marriage conciliator to take oath of secrecy

15. Grounds for dissolution of marriage

+46 more sections

Part III – Intervention

62. Intervention by Attorney‐General on request from court

63. Intervention of Attorney‐General in other cases

64. Delegation by Attorney‐General

65. Intervention by other persons

66. Rescission of decree nisi in consequence of intervention

+2 more sections

Part IV – Maintenance, custody and settlement

69. Interpretation of "marriage" etc., in the application of this Part

70. Powers of court in maintenance proceedings

71. Powers of court in custody, etc., proceedings

72. Power of court in proceedings with respect to settlement of property

73. General powers of court

+2 more sections

Part V – Appeals

76. General right of appeal

77. Appeals with leave

78. Appeal from court of summary jurisdiction

79. Appellate jurisdiction and powers

Part VI – Recognition of decrees

80. Effect of decrees

81. Recognition of other decrees

Part VII – Evidence

82. Standard of proof

83. Evidence of husbands and wives

84. Evidence of non‐access

85. Evidence as to adultery

86. Proof of marriage, etc.

+1 more sections

Part VIII – Enforcement of decrees

88. Attachment

89. Enforcement of decrees by other High Courts

90. Recovery of moneys as judgment debt

91. Summary enforcement of orders for maintenance

92. Enforcement of maintenance orders by attachment or earnings

+3 more sections

Part IX – Transitional provisions

96. Definitions

97. Pending proceedings generally

98. Continuance of proceedings for dissolution or nullity of marriage, or judicial separation

99. Application of this Act to pending proceedings for dissolution or nullity of marriage, or judicial separation

100. Continuance of other pending proceedings

+2 more sections

Part X – Miscellaneous

103. Hearings to be in open court

104. Proceedings to be heard by judge alone

105. Transactions intended to defeat claims

106. Service of process

107. Position of clergy as to re‐marriage

+8 more sections

First schedule - [Section 3]

Second schedule - [Section 14]

Third schedule - [Section 92]

Paragraph 1.

Paragraph 2.

Paragraph 3.

Paragraph 4.

Paragraph 5.

+31 more sections

Matrimonial Causes Act, 1970

Published in Official Gazette supplement 15 on 20 March 1970
Assented to on 17 March 1970
Commenced on 17 March 1970
[This is the version of this document at 31 December 2002.]

An Act to make provisions for matrimonial causes.

Part I – Jurisdiction

1. Institution of matrimonial cause proceedings only under this Act

(1)After the commencement of this Act, a matrimonial cause shall not be instituted otherwise than under this Act.

(2)If a matrimonial cause has been instituted before the commencement of this Act but not completed, it shall be continued and dealt with only in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

(3)Where before or after the commencement of this Act a matrimonial cause has been or is instituted, and whether or not it has been completed, proceedings in relation thereto for any relief or order of a kind that could be sought under this Act shall be instituted after the commencement of this Act only under this Act, so however that, subject to the succee…

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Matrimonial Causes Act, 1970 🇳🇬

Table of Contents

Matrimonial Causes Act, 1970

Part I – Jurisdiction

1. Institution of matrimonial cause proceedings only under this Act

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