Act VII of 2026 establishes the Family Court (Qorti tal-Familja) as a dedicated court within the civil court hierarchy, presided by one Judge, replacing the Civil Court (Family Section). Jurisdiction covers: Titles I, II and IV of Book I of the Civil Code (personal status, marriage, parental authority, maintenance), the Maintenance Orders Enforcement Ordinance (Cap. 48), the Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders Act (Cap. 242), the Marriage Act (Cap. 255) and the Sequestration and Custody of Minors Act (Cap. 410). The Minister may extend jurisdiction by regulations to other family matters and may confer criminal jurisdiction over contraventions arising from pending civil family cases. All existing Civil Court (Family Section) cases transfer automatically. Gozo family matters continue through the Magistrates Court (Gozo) (Superior Jurisdiction) (Family Section) unless otherwise provided by regulation. A Support Office (Uffiċċju ta' Sostenn) may be established within the Agency for Court Services to provide assisted accessibility and specialist support for vulnerable court users. The Act also amends the Civil Code: Article 21A empowers the Minister to make regulations on maintenance calculation methodology; Article 47A allows a separating spouse to withdraw reasonable alternative-residence expenses from the community of acquests without the other spouse's consent, subject to court authorisation. The Criminal Code is amended by adding Article 338(nn) (failure to exercise court-ordered child access without valid reason) and Article 338A (continued offence rules for maintenance, access and custody breaches). Signed 27 March 2026.