What's next for Barnaby Joyce?

The deputy prime minister faces weeks of uncertainty as the High Court decides on his future and could trigger a by-election.

What next for under-fire deputy PM Barnaby Joyce? (AAP)

NEXT STEPS FOR BARNABY JOYCE

* High Court will determine whether Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce is eligible to sit in parliament.

* If found ineligible, his NSW seat of New England will be declared vacant.

* A writ would be issued for a by-election.

* Joyce would be able to contest the by-election once he receives the paperwork to extinguish his connection with New Zealand.

* A by-election would be held about eight weeks after the writ is issued.

* If Joyce wins the by-election, the government will retain its 76 seats (a one seat majority) in the lower house.

* If he loses, the government will only have 75 seats in the lower house which is one short of a majority. It will have to negotiate with one of the five crossbenchers to ensure supply and confidence and inform the governor-general once it has the numbers.

* If he is cleared by the High Court, Joyce can continue to sit in parliament.