Domestic Abuse - Frequently Asked Questions
Domestic Abuse - Frequently Asked Questions
How does domestic violence and abuse affect my children?
It is important to understand that it is known that children and young people who suffer or witness domestic abuse are 3 times more likely to suffer from emotional difficulties including low self-esteem, often displaying aggressive behavior, as well as other behavioural difficulties, and this may also affect their own future relationships.
What if my partner will not accept my decision to end the relationship or marriage?
Often the aggressor in a violent relationship feels a high level of ownership over the other partner.
It is therefore very common that once a person has decided to take that step to stop domestic abuse their partner feels a sense of loss of control and ownership. This often results in threatening, harassing and intimidating behaviour in an attempt to prevent that person from leaving the relationship and in attempt to regain control of the situation again. If this happens, it is possible to ask the Family Court to make the necessary orders to protect you and your children from this type of behaviour to allow you to move forwards and begin your new life.
It is at this stage that many people return to abusive relationships for fear of the repercussions if they do not. This is when the victim will need all their strength and support to continue to move forwards to freedom from domestic abuse.
What are my options?
It may well have been necessary to involve the police prior to your decision to leave the perpetrator and there may be a record of this with the Police.
It is always a good idea to ensure that the Police are aware of all incidents of domestic abuse and to seek their assistance in an emergency. However, the Police cannot always assist.
Firstly, making a decision and taking that first step to stop domestic abuse is extremely hard and it may be that you only want to talk to one person about your situation in the first instance. This is quite natural and if you feel unable to speak to a friend or member of your family for fear of repercussion, there are many organisations such as “Dash” (Domestic Abuse Stops Here) and Berkshire Women’s Aid who offer this service on a free and confidential basis. These organisations can offer you support and advise you on the options available to you.
If you then feel able to take the next step in finding freedom from domestic abuse, they will assess and complete a support plan tailored to your individual family needs. They will provide continued support throughout which as well as emotional support may include safety planning and crisis intervention including safe housing accommodation. They are also trained to support and assist your children during this difficult time.
What can the Family Court do?
Pursuant to the Family Law Act 1996, the Family Court have the power to make a variety of orders including a non-molestation order forbidding a person from using or threatening violence against a person or from harassing, pestering or intimidating that person.
It can also order that there be no communication between the parties. This can include an order forbidding third parties, such as the perpetrator’s family and friends from acting upon their instructions. The court also has the power to grant such an order in respect of any children of the relationship.
Special measures at a Family Court can be put in place i.e. screens, so that you do not have to see the perpetrator in Court.
Note: When the Act first came into force, a victim had to show the court that the domestic abuse was of a recent nature and although there had been many historic incidents that the victim would wish to rely on, the Court would not place much weight on them in deciding the case. However, recent case law/guidelines to the Family Court provide that the “bigger picture” should be considered, and a court will now take into account with the same weight in consideration, a pattern of historic domestic abuse covering the whole period of marriage or relationship.
Why should I leave my home when I am the victim?
It is quite wrong that a victim of domestic abuse feels that they have to leave their home, friends and family due to another person’s behaviour. Therefore in addition to a non-molestation order, in some circumstances, the Court can make an occupation order that a person vacate the family home and thereafter is not permitted to return for a period of time to allow the victim of the abuse (and the children if appropriate) to remain in their home.
In extremely urgent circumstances it is possible to obtain a non-molestation order immediately and in extreme cases, although this is rare, an occupation order.
These orders often remain in force for up to 12 months and can be extended if necessary. They also carry a power of arrest which provides the Police with authority to arrest a person should there be a breach of the order.
As well as providing the victim with protection from domestic abuse and excluding the perpetrator from the family home, the Court have the power to make orders that mortgages and utility bills are to be paid by the perpetrator.
What is a Power of Arrest and how does it work?
Once an order(s) has been obtained from the Court, they have to be served personally by a process server on the person subject to the order. Once this has been done, if you believe that the orders have been breached you are entitled to call the Police and they will arrest the person subject to the orders and will present him before the court at the earliest opportunity thereafter. These are particularly effective over weekend periods or bank holidays when there may be less support than would be the case during the week. The police are entitled to hold the perpetrator until such time as they can produce them before the Court.
The Court, if satisfied that an order has been breached, will impose punishment which includes an immediate prison sentence, suspended prison sentence, fine or community service. The punishment is dependent upon the seriousness of the breach committed.
How much is the court process – How can I fund it?
There are currently no court charges to make an application to the Family Court. It is also possible, in some circumstances, to receive public funding in order to receive legal assistance to obtain any of the above orders and the Legal Aid Agency would be able to assess your eligibility in this respect. However, there is a high criterion to satisfy to be eligible and it is likely that some evidence of abuse will be necessary. In some cases, if you work, you may be required to make a contribution.
In some cases, where there is a family home, it may be possible to obtain litigation funding to deal with all of the issues following divorce and separation. Further details in this regard can be discussed with a solicitor. Parfitt Cresswell deal with many cases with litigation funded clients.
You can instruct a solicitor on a private paying basis if you have access to funds or if you feel able can make the application yourself. However, where a victim has been manipulated and bullied and remains in fear of the perpetrator this may not be appropriate as you will need to attend hearings with the perpetrator.
What are my next steps?
The Family Team at Parfitt Creswell not only deal with all matters relating to the breakdown of a relationship or marriage but also offer specialist advice and assistance for people who are suffering from domestic abuse. If you would like to speak to a legal professional to discuss your situation, we offer a complimentary initial consultation during which we can discuss in more detail and on a completely confidential basis your circumstances and options and we can refer you to the appropriate network of support if necessary. If Court proceedings are issued, we will assist and guide you throughout together with other organisations.
To speak with one of our Family Law Experts and arrange a complimentary, no-obligations consultation click on the button below.
