Declaration of legitimacy, etc

(1) Any person who is a natural-born citizen of Belize, or whose right to be deemed a natural-born citizen of Belize depends wholly or in part on his legitimacy or on the validity of any marriage, may, if he is domiciled in Belize or claims any real or personal estate situate in Belize, apply by petition to the Court for a decree declaring that the petitioner is the legitimate child of his parents, and that the marriage of his father and mother or of his grandfather and grandmother was a valid marriage or that his own marriage was a valid marriage. (2) Any person who is so domiciled or claims as aforesaid, may apply to the Court for a decree declaring his right to be deemed a natural-born citizen of Belize. (3) Applications under sub-sections (1) and (2), may be included in the same petition and on any such application the Court shall make such decree as the Court thinks just, and the decree shall be binding on Her Majesty and all other persons whatever, Provided that the decree of the Court shall not prejudice any (a) if it is subsequently proved to have been obtained by fraud or collusion; or (b) unless that person has been cited or made a party to the proceedings or is the next-of-kin or personal representative of, or derives title under or through, a person so cited or made a (4) A copy of every petition under this section and of any affidavit accompanying the petition shall be delivered to the Attorney General at least one month before the petition is presented or filed, and the Attorney-General shall be a respondent on the hearing of the petition and on any subsequent proceedings relating thereto. (5) In any application under this section such persons shall, subject to rules of court, be cited to see proceedings or otherwise summoned as the court thinks fit, and any such persons may be permitted to become parties to the proceedings and to oppose the application. (6) The provisions of this Act relating to matrimonial causes shall, so far as applicable, extend to any proceedings under this (7) No proceedings under this section shall affect any final judgment or decree already pronounced or made by any Court of competent jurisdiction.