Every nullity or presumption of death order—
is, in the first instance, a conditional order, and
may not be made final before the end of the prescribed period for the purposes of this paragraph.
Subject to subsections (2) to (4), the prescribed period for the purposes of subsection (A1)(b) is—
6 weeks from the making of the conditional order, or
if the 6 week period would end on a day on which the office or registry of the court dealing with the case is closed, the period of 6 weeks extended to the end of the first day on which the office or registry is next open.
The Lord Chancellor may by order amend this section so as to substitute a different definition of the prescribed period for the purposes of subsection (A1)(b).
But the Lord Chancellor may not under subsection (2) provide for a period longer than 6 months to be the prescribed period.
In a particular case the court dealing with the case may by order shorten the prescribed period.
The power to make an order under subsection (2) is exercisable by statutory instrument.
An instrument containing such an order is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.