Section 17 — Matrimonial Causes Act 1973: Judicial separation.

Judicial separation. 17 1 Either or both parties to a marriage may apply to the court for an order (a “judicial separation order”) which provides for the separation of the parties to the marriage. 1A An application under subsection (1) must be accompanied by—

a if the application is by one party to the marriage only, a statement by that person that they seek to be judicially separated from the other party to the marriage, or b if the application is by both parties to the marriage, a statement by them that they seek to be judicially separated from one another. 1B The court dealing with an application under subsection (1) must make a judicial separation order. 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 Sections 6 and 7 above shall apply for the purpose of encouraging the reconciliation of parties to proceedings for a judicial separation order and of enabling the parties to a marriage to refer to the court for its opinion an agreement or arrangement relevant to actual or contemplated proceedings for a judicial separation order , as they apply in relation to proceedings for a divorce order .