This order amends the Family Law Act 1996 (Part IV) (Allocation of Proceedings) Order 1997 (“the Order”) as a result of the implementation of the Civil Partnership Act 2004(c. 33), which received Royal Assent on 18 November 2004. Article 2 of this order is amended to create a new class of court known as a “designated county court” which includes both divorce county courts (as under the order prior to amendment) and civil partnership proceedings county courts in the classes of county court specified for the purpose of the Order. Article 3 enables the principal registry of the Family Division of the High Court to be treated as if it were either a divorce county court or a civil partnership proceedings county court where necessary.