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Section 46: Undertakings.

Family Law Act 1996 · 1996 c. 27View on legislation.gov.uk

Part IV: Family Homes and Domestic Violence

In any case where the court has power to make an occupation order or non-molestation order, the court may accept an undertaking from any party to the proceedings.

No power of arrest may be attached to any undertaking given under subsection (1).

The court shall not accept an undertaking under subsection (1) instead of making an occupation order in any case where apart from this section a power of arrest would be attached to the order.

The court shall not accept an undertaking under subsection (1) instead of making a non-molestation order in any case where it appears to the court that—

the respondent has used or threatened violence against the applicant or a relevant child; and
for the protection of the applicant or child it is necessary to make a non-molestation order so that any breach may be punishable under section 42A.

An undertaking given to a court under subsection (1) is enforceable as if the court had made an occupation order or a non-molestation order in terms corresponding to those of the undertaking.

This section has effect without prejudice to the powers of the High Court and the family court apart from this section.

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This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.