Chapter 609 – Legal and Other Time Periods (Suspension and Interruption) Act

What is this act about?

This law allows for the suspension or interruption of legal and other time periods during a public health emergency, especially when certain public offices are closed.

Who it applies to: Anyone whose legal or contractual time periods might be affected by the closure of courts, government departments, or other public offices during a public health emergency; The Minister responsible for justice.

At a glance

Country: Malta
Area of law: Social security
Articles: 7
Source: legislation.mt
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

The suspension or interruption of time limits set by laws, courts, government bodies, or contracts.
The power of the Minister responsible for justice to issue regulations concerning these time periods.
The effect of regulations, including their potential to apply retroactively.

Who does this act apply to?

Anyone whose legal or contractual time periods might be affected by the closure of courts, government departments, or other public offices during a public health emergency.
The Minister responsible for justice.

What are the key points?

The Minister can make regulations to suspend or interrupt time limits if the Superintendent orders the closure of certain entities (like courts or government departments) and the Minister believes this closure could cause prejudice due to time periods continuing to run.
These regulations can apply to time limits established by any substantive or procedural law, by any court or public authority, or in any agreement.
Regulations can be issued with an effective date up to one month before the regulation itself is made.
This law does not limit the Superintendent's existing power to issue orders suspending time limits under the Public Health Act.

Social security

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Chapter 34

Social security

Legal text

Contents (7)

Art. 1
Art. 2
Art. 3
Art. 4
Art. 5
Art. 6
Art. 7

LEGAL AND OTHER TIME PERIODS (SUSPENSION AND INTERRUPTION)

CHAPTER 609

LEGAL AND OTHER TIME PERIODS (SUSPENSION AND INTERRUPTION) ACT AN ACT to provide for the suspension or interruption of legal and other time periods in the context of a public health emergency and to make provision and to provide for matters ancillary or incidental thereto or connected therewith.

2nd April, 2020 ACT XIII of 2020.

Art. 1

The short title of this Act is the Legal and Other Time Periods (Suspension and Interruption) Act.

Art. 2

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

Short title.

Interpretation. "court" means any of the courts of justice and shall refer to the superior courts and the inferior courts including appellate courts irrespective of their competence or jurisdiction, and includes any tribunal or body established by law which operates from the building of the Courts of Justice in Valletta, and any boards, commissions, committees or other entities which operate from the building of the Courts of Justice before which any proceedings are heard or procedures undertaken and shall include such other tribunals or bodies constituted by law which the Minister may prescribe; "Minister" means the minister responsible for justice; "Registry" means the registry of any court; "Superintendent" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in the Public Health Act.

Art. 3

(1)Where, by virtue of the powers conferred to the Superintendent under articles 26 or 27 of the Public Health Act, the Superintendent issues an order for the closure of: public, (a) any court; (b) the registry of any court; (c) any government department; (d) any office of any public authority; (e) any other entity constituted by law; or (f) any other office that provides a service to the  Powers of the Minister to issue regulations.  LEGAL AND OTHER TIME PERIODS (SUSPENSION AND INTERRUPTION) and it appears to the Minister that the closure of any or all of the entities, departments or offices listed in paragraphs (a) to (f) above, may have a prejudicial consequence as a result of the continued running of time periods prescribed by any law or in any contract during such closure, the Minister may, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, make such regulations in connection with the running of such times that may be deemed expedient in the circumstances.

(2)Without prejudice to the generality of the orders that may be made under sub-article (1), the Minister may by regulations prescribe for the suspension or interruption of any time limits established: (a) by or under any other substantive or procedural law, including periods of prescription, and any time limits whether peremptory or otherwise; (b) by any court of law, government department, government agency or public authority; or (c) in any agreement whether resulting from a private writing or public deed.

(3)Any regulation issued pursuant to this article may be of such application as the Minister may consider expedient in the circumstances.

Applicability.

Art. 4

Regulations prescribed made by the Minister pursuant to the powers conferred under article 3 may be issued with effect from a date which is set out in the regulation including a date that pre-dates the regulation by not more than one month.

Additional powers of the Minister to prescribe regulations.

Art. 5

The Minister may pursuant to the powers accorded under article 3 make regulations for the purpose of regulating matters which are consequential, incidental or ancillary to the suspension of any time.

Orders issued by the Superintendent.

Art. 6

The provisions of this Act shall be without prejudice to any power of the Superintendent to issue orders suspending any legal, contractual or other time limits in terms of the powers conferred upon the Superintendent under the said Act and nothing in this Act shall be construed as a limitation on such powers.

Savings.

Art. 7

The subsidiary legislation made under the Public Health Act in relation to the suspension of times shall continue in force and have effect as if they were made under this Act.

AI explanation based on the official legal text. Indicative, not a substitute for legal advice.