What is Domestic Abuse?

Domestic Abuse does not only refer to physical violence. It can also include financial, emotional, sexual and psychological abuse. Domestic abuse can be caused by a spouse or a partner, but it can also be caused by other members of your family.

Domestic abuse includes coercive control. Coercive control is a pattern of behaviour intended to exert power and control and can include threats, humiliation or intimidation. Often, the perpetrator will intend to isolate a person from support or deprive them from their independence. Any form of domestic abuse is never ok and it is vital that you seek support if you consider you have been the victim of domestic abuse.

Please see the below leaflet which sets out some useful resources whom may be able to assist you or support you further.

In addition, you can seek the advice of a solicitor to consider if there are any options available to you. Our specialist family lawyers can advise you about the orders they may be able to obtain from the Court for your protection:-

A Non-Molestation Order

A Non-Molestation Order is an injunction which forbids the respondent from carrying out specific behaviour and asserts protective measures. A Non-Molestation Order can be obtained through the family court.

Typically, Non-Molestation Orders are more common where there is an ongoing threat of abuse or danger. If you are ever in immediate physical danger, you should call 999.

If you have been the victim of domestic abuse, you may be able to seek a Non-Molestation Order if the perpetrator is:-

• Someone you are having or have had a relationship with;
• A family member;
• Someone you are living with or have lived with.

The aim of Non-Molestation Orders are to protect you and even your children from further abuse or harassment.

There is no set time-frame for how long a Non-Molestation Order will remain in place and ultimately, the Court has discretion to determine this. However, the typical starting point will be between six and twelve months.

An Occupation Order

An Occupation Order is used to determine who can live in or enter a specific property. These are short-term solutions, typically pending a final settlement, for example within divorce or cohabitation disputes. This Order can declare which party has the right to reside in the property temporarily, for example the family home and it can Order that the other party is not to attend or enter the property. They can also prevent a person from going within a certain distance of your home.

As noted, these are short-term solutions and will typically be implemented for a period of six months. The Court will first need to consider various factors and if it is appropriate for an Occupation Order to be in place.

Our experienced solicitors can act quickly, offering confidential advice about the remedies available to you and about how you can protect yourself from abuse in the future.

If you are concerned about any kind of abuse or harm, including any kind of control whether that is of you, your children or your money, please click the links below for more information about confidential and free help

You can contact our Family team on:-

0117 962 1205

Info@amdsolicitors.com

 

 

What our Clients say

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“Rebecca Martin is for sure a golden star at AMD Solicitors! She was super-efficient with emails and always being on top of things. This has made the whole sales process extremely smooth, to the point that even I was surprised on how quickly it all finished, when you consider how many nightmare stories you read around the internet regarding conveyancing and slow responding solicitors etc.
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09/02/2024
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“Thank goodness for Laura Lynn and Amanda Easton. Both were absolutely incredible during my flat sale and house purchase. Calm in the face of some extremely challenging moments and proactive in pushing things through to a successful completion. They kept me fully informed throughout and made sure I understood what was going on at every stage. I am so very grateful that I selected AMD and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them”.

23 August 2023

23/08/2023
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This is the second time AMD has handled the conveyancing for both my purchase and sale, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience!

Laura (Lynn) and her assistant, Claudia (Plessier), have been absolutely exceptional.

I first got to know Laura when I used AMD for my previous house move four years ago. She was incredibly: responsive, professional, patient and understanding throughout the whole process. Above all, she gave me a real sense of reassurance and confidence, which meant so much to us. That experience stayed with me, so when it came to moving house again, Laura was the first and only person I turned to without hesitation.

Once again, she delivered everything I needed and more. The housing market has been challenging for the past 2 years, and it took us quite some time to finally get our transaction over the line. Throughout the ups and downs, Laura and Claudia were always there to support us. Their patience, dedication and professionalism made a stressful process so much easier!

Now that we have finally moved into what is very likely to be our forever home, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to Laura, Claudia and everyone at AMD.

We truly appreciate the outstanding service you have provided. Laura, after all these years and two house moves, we will always remember you and the care you have shown us.

Thank you again, Laura and Claudia. We couldn’t have done it without you!

12/11/2026
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Jo Morris

Director and Head of Family Department

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