Section 69 Matrimonial Causes Act 1970

Section 69 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1970 is about Interpretation of “marriage”, etc., in the application of this Part. It provides as follows:

In this Part of this Act,- “marriage” includes a purported marriage that is void, but does not include one entered into according to Muslim rites or other customary law, and “children of the marriage” includes-
(a) any child adopted since the marriage by the husband and wife or by either of them with the consent of the other;

(b) any child of the husband and wife born before the marriage, whether legitimated by the marriage or not; and

(c)
any child of either the husband or wife (including an illegitimate child of either of them and a child adopted by either of them) if, at the relevant time, the child was ordinarily a member of the household of the husband and wife,

so however that a child of the husband and wife (including a child born before the marriage, whether legitimated by the marriage or not) who has been adopted by another person or other persons shall be deemed not to be a child of the marriage;

“relevant time” means in relation to proceedings under this Part of this Act either-
(a) the time immediately preceding the time when the husband and wife ceased to live together or, if they have ceased on more than one occasion to live together, the time immediately preceding the time when they last ceased to live together before the institution of the proceedings; or

(b) if the husband and wife were living together at the time when the proceedings were instituted, the time immediately preceding the institution of the proceedings.

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