Domestic violence is any threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between adults who are or have been in a relationship, or between family members.
Domestic violence or abuse can be any of the following - physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, financial or social abuse. This may include:
- Intimidation, emotional abuse - calling you names, playing mind games and humiliating you
- Isolation - controlling who you may see and what you do on a day to day basis
- Using your children - threatening to take the children away or to hurt them
- economic control - preventing you from getting a job, controlling the amount of money you have day to day
Here at Clough and Willis we have a dedicated team of family law specialists who are headed by a Resolution accredited specialist. We advise and represent male and female partners as well as other family relations subject to verbal and physical assaults or harassment .
Clough and Willis are committed to encouraging a non-confrontational approach to resolving family disputes and can advise on your legal rights regarding the following - getting an injunction against your partner, residence orders, non molestation orders (forbidding assaulting, harassing, pestering or intimidating you), child contact orders and occupation orders (regulating who can live in the family home and restricting your abuser / assailant from coming within a certain distance of the home).
We always recommend such behaviour is first reported to the police. If Court proceedings are necessary to secure the protection of a party by way of an Injunction Order, the involvement or lack of involvement of the police would usually be an initial consideration of the Judge.
The Court can give orders to forbid violence and harassment (known as Non-Molestation Orders) and also govern the occupation of the home. A breach of a Non-Molestation Order is now a criminal offence which can lead to arrest and may also warrant a long custodial sentence if proven.
A Power of Arrest can also be granted to the police concerning breaches of an Occupation Order such as may restrain a party from attending at or in the vicinity of the home.
To arrange a free inititial consultation, please contact Lee Marston, lee.marston@clough-willis.co.uk or Marie Whittaker, marie.whittaker@clough-willis.co.uk.
