Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse can affect anyone. Domestic abuse can occur in families regardless of class, nationality, religion, gender or age. It can impact adults in a wide range of relationships and situations.

We understand that having suffered from domestic abuse, you may be concerned for your own safety, as well as that of any children you may have, or be responsible for. You may also be worried about access to the family home and finances.

Our Family Law Solicitors will advise you in the strictest confidence, giving you guidance on both the legal and practical issues you face. Your lawyer at Holmes & Hills Solicitors will advise you on the actions that can be taken to protect you and any children and secure your interests in, and access to, your home or assets. Our expert solicitors will provide you with advice and guidance in relation to each of these issues and more. Our team are recognised by the Legal 500 for their expertise.

If necessary for your protection, you solicitor may make emergency applications to Court on your behalf, to stop abusive behaviour and protect you or your children. The family courts can make orders often referred to as “injunctions”, which can potentially be done without your partner even having to be notified.

There are two different sorts of injunction orders:

• An occupation order, which requires the abuser to leave your home (or part of it) or keep away from your home, or to allow you to occupy your home without being threatened, harassed or assaulted.
• A non-molestation order, which orders a person to stop being violent, or threatening violence or other sorts of intimidating and upsetting behaviour. A breach of a non-molestation order is a criminal offence.

In addition to granting these orders, judges also have powers to impose obligations on individuals which may help you with your financial situation. These obligations can include ensuring your partner pays the rent or mortgage on a family home. Your solicitor at Holmes & Hills will discuss all of these options with you.

It may be that your solicitor is the first person you have spoken to about your situation. If this is the case, you can rest assured that your solicitor at Holmes & Hills will have helped many individuals in a similar situation before and has the necessary experience and expertise in cases of domestic abuse to provide you with the specialist advice and support you need at this difficult time.

• Advice for now, and for your future:

As well providing you with the urgent advice and support that you need now, your solicitor at Holmes & Hills will also advise you on more long-term issues such as:

• How to formally separate from an abusive partner, whether married, co-habiting or in a civil-partnership.
• Making long-term living arrangements, both for you and any children.
• Arranging on-going contact with any children, ensuring this is safe and controlled.
• Dealing with issues relating to the family home and any other shared assets and finances.

Call us today to organise an appointment with a solicitor at your earliest convenience.

Meet with your solicitor at your local office

Holmes & Hills has seven offices across Essex and Suffolk and you can meet with your solicitor at whichever office is most convenient for you. Holmes & Hills' offices are located in Colchester (Marks Tey), Braintree, Witham, Halstead, Sudbury, Tiptree and Coggeshall.