Current version (as amended)

Section 8 of the Children Act 1989 , as it currently stands (that is — with any amendments), is as follows:

Child arrangements orders and other orders with respect to children

1. (1)  

   In this Act —

   • “a child arrangements order” means an order regulating arrangements relating to any of the following —

     1. (a) with whom a child is to live, spend time or otherwise have contact, and
     2. (b) when a child is to live, spend time or otherwise have contact with any person;
   • “a prohibited steps order” means an order that no step which could be taken by a parent in meeting his parental responsibility for a child, and which is of a kind specified in the order, shall be taken by any person without the consent of the court;
   • “a specific issue order” means an order giving directions for the purpose of determining a specific question which has arisen, or which may arise, in connection with any aspect of parental responsibility for a child.
2. (2)  

   In this Act “a section 8 order” means any of the orders mentioned in subsection (1) and any order varying or discharging such an order.

3. (3)  

   For the purposes of this Act “family proceedings” means any proceedings —

   1. (a)  under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court in relation to children; and
   2. (b)  under the enactments mentioned in subsection (4),

   but does not include proceedings on an application for leave under section 100(3) .

4. (4)  

   The enactments are —

   1. (a)  Parts I , II  and IV  of this Act;
   2. (b)  the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 ;
   3. (ba)  Schedule 5  to the Civil Partnership Act 2004 ;
   4. (c)  …
   5. (d)  the Adoption and Children Act 2002 ;
   6. (e)  the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1978 ;
   7. (ea)  Schedule 6  to the Civil Partnership Act 2004 ;
   8. (f)  …
   9. (g)  Part III  of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 ;
   10. (h)  the Family Law Act 1996 ;
   11. (i)  sections 11  and 12  of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 .

Meaning of terms

Certain terms in the Children Act 1989 have a specific meaning which is defined in the Act:

• “Child” means, subject to paragraph 16  of Schedule 1 , a person under the age of 18.
• “Parental responsibility” means all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his property (as defined in section 3 ).
• “This Act” means the Children Act 1989 .