Feb 14
Domestic Abuse - What You Need To Know
2012 at 11.00 am posted by Sue Sedgwick - Family Law Solicitor
Myer Wolff's Family Law Solicitors are able to assist where domestic abuse arises. The term domestic abuse is used to describe a huge range of behaviour from threats of and actual physical violence or sexual assaults to much more subtle methods of control including dominating a person’s finances and isolating them from their friends and family.
If you have been subjected to domestic abuse there are potentially two types of Court Orders available to provide you with a degree of protection.
A Non-Molestation Order is an Order which prohibits a person from acting in a certain manner. It can be tailored to meet your needs and can, for example, prohibit a perpetrator from contacting you or from subjecting you to violent or intimidating behaviour. A clause can also be included prohibiting the perpetrator from entering an “exclusion zone” around your home. A breach of a Non-Molestation Order is a criminal offence and can lead to the perpetrator being arrested and brought before the Court.
An Occupation Order is an Order that can regulate who lives at the former family home for a specified period of time, regardless of a person’s legal right to reside there. This can provide you with an opportunity to consider your options, resolve any financial issues you may have or to secure alternative accommodation. A Power of Arrest can be attached to an Occupation Order, which, in the event of the Order being breached, can again lead to the perpetrator being brought before the Court.
To make an application for either Court Order on an urgent basis, time is a critical factor. It is therefore essential that incidents of domestic abuse are reported to the police promptly and that you seek legal advice as soon after the incident as possible. Legal Aid is available in certain circumstances, for applications of this kind.
If you are in a situation where you need assistance in relation to domestic abuse we have Family Law Solicitors who can help. Either telephone us on 01482 223693 or visit the offices of Myer Wolff Solicitors in Hull at King William House, Lowgate, Hull, HU1 1YE.