The Lord Chancellor may , with the concurrence of the Lord Chief Justice, by order—
In this Part of this Act “civil partnership proceedings county court” means a county court designated under subsection (1)(a) above.
A civil partnership proceedings county court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine any civil partnership cause, subject to subsection (4) below.
A civil partnership proceedings county court shall have jurisdiction to try a civil partnership cause only if it is designated under subsection (1)(b) above as a court of trial.
The jurisdiction conferred by this section on a civil partnership proceedings county court shall be exercisable throughout England and Wales, but rules of court may provide for a civil partnership cause pending in one such court to be heard and determined—
Every civil partnership cause shall be commenced in a civil partnership proceedings county court.
Every civil partnership cause shall be heard and determined in a civil partnership proceedings county court unless, or except to the extent, it is transferred to the High Court under—
The Lord Chancellor may , with the concurrence of the Lord Chief Justice, by order designate a civil partnership proceedings county court as a court for the exercise of jurisdiction in civil partnership matters under Schedule 7 to the Civil Partnership Act 2004.
The power to make an order under subsection (1) or (8) above shall be exercisable by statutory instrument.
The Lord Chief Justice may nominate a judicial office holder (as defined in section 109(4) of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005) to exercise his functions under this section.