Domestic Abuse

Our Family team can help you with all aspects of domestic abuse law. Our solicitors will deal with your matter of domestic abuse with empathy and consideration for your circumstances and fight for your rights.

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Domestic Abuse Solicitors

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 999 and ask for the police. If you cannot speak and are calling on a mobile, press 55 and you will be transferred to the police. You can also call the 24-Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247. It is a confidential service. Anyone can experience domestic abuse, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status, sexuality or background. Our family solicitors will work with you to understand what you may be experiencing or have experienced and be able to go through your options with you. If appropriate, they will work quickly and tirelessly to put in place protections for you and / or your children.

Our Family Law Solicitors work in the strictest confidence to support you and your family. We understand that domestic abuse can take many forms and does not always mean physical violence. Domestic abuse can include, emotional and psychological abuse, financial abuse, economic abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse and coercion and control. It may be that you have experienced or are experiencing a mixture of these. Our family solicitors are trained to screen for domestic abuse and can help you recognise it and get the support and help you need.

We are skilled in obtaining urgent and extensive protective orders such as Non-Molestation and/or Occupation Orders to protect you and your children from harm. Court Orders to protect domestic abuse survivors often have to be applied for urgently, without notifying the other party. You can trust our team to provide sensitive, practical advice and make an emergency application to the Court if required.

We also have relationships with Financial Advisors, Estate Agents, and Counsellors who can provide additional support if required.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Non-Molestation Order?

A Non-Molestation Order is a Court Order which is used to protect individuals and their children from domestic abuse. The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 defines domestic abuse as not just physical violence, but also emotional abuse, coercive and controlling behaviour, and economic abuse.

The Act recognises children as victims if they see, hear, or otherwise experience the effects of abuse. A Non-Molestation Order prohibits the recipient from acting in a manner that constitutes domestic abuse. This includes:

Using or threatening violence towards the Applicant or any relevant children.
Intimidating, harassing, or pestering the Applicant or any relevant children.
Contacting the Applicant or any relevant children directly or indirectly.
Damaging, attempting to damage or threatening to damage the family home or any of the Applicant’s possessions.
Asking another person to do any of the above.

A Non-Molestation Order can also ban a person from coming within a specified distance of certain places where the Applicant or their children are likely to be such as the family home or schools in which relevant children attend.

What is an Occupation Order?

An Occupation Order is a Court Order stating who can live on a property or any particular part of it. The Court can also decide on matters such as the payment of rent or mortgage and other bills concerning the property.

Will I have to communicate with the perpetrator or see them in Court?

No. We can assist you and deal with all communications so that you do not have to experience further abuse via communications with the perpetrator.

At Court hearings, we will ask the court to apply ‘special measures’ such as a separate waiting area and screens in the court room or attendance via a video link. Your safety and security is of the upmost importance to us.

What other support is available?

Further support and information are available from the below organisations:

GOV.UK Guidance

National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) – 0800 970 20 70

Refuge – 0808 2000 247 (24 hours)

Women’s Aid – 0808 200 0247 (24 hours)

ManKind – 01823 334 244 Galop

The Men’s Advice Line run by Respect is a confidential helpline specifically for male victims:
0808 801 0327
[email protected]

LGBT Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0800 999 5428

NSPCC
You can contact the NSPCC Helpline by calling 0808 800 5000 or emailing [email protected].

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