Domestic Abuse

Are you experiencing physical, sexual, psychological and/or financial abuse?

Are you being controlled by a spouse, partner or family member? Are you being harassed, stalked or being subjected to online or digital abuse? Vanguard Law Solicitors are here to listen to your experiences and provide you with advice about your options. We act on your instructions. We will not pressure you in to taking action. If you simply want to chat about what is happening in your life and to get information we are here for you. If you want to we can put you in touch with support organisations, send a warning letter to the perpetrator of the abuse, obtain court orders to protect you and your children without the perpetrator of the abuse being given notice.

Worried about a friend or relative? Please feel free to get in touch for a general chat about the help that is available.

What is domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour including sexual violence in the majority of cases by a partner or ex partner but also by a family member or carer.

Non-Molestation Order

This is a court order often referred to as an injunction aimed at preventing your partner or ex partner from using or threatening violence against you or your child or intimidating, harassing and pestering you. This is to ensure the health, safety and well being of you and your child. If a person breaches such an order they are committing a criminal offence which carries a maximum prison sentence of 5 years.

Occupation Order

This is a court order that regulates who can live in the family home. The court has the power to exclude a person from the family home even if they are the sole or joint owner of the property if this is necessary to protect another person or child. The court also has power to order the person to make a financial contribution to the family home even though they are no longer living there.

Forced Marriage

You have the right to choose who you marry, when to marry or if you marry at all. Forced marriage is when you face undue pressure to marry. Forced marriage is illegal. You can apply to the court for a forced marriage protection order. The terms of the order will be to deal with your individual circumstances. We can apply for orders in an emergency and without notice to the people who are putting the pressure on you.