Family Court Guide for those with experience of domestic abuse
Whewell, Emma
Authors
Emma Whewell Emma.Whewell@uwe.ac.uk
Senior Lecturer
Contributors
District Judge Gareth Webb
Project Leader
Amy Finnemore
Project Member
Cathryn Blyth
Project Member
Abstract
The Family Court Guide is a practical, digital guide for those with experience of domestic abuse. It explains exactly how to apply to the Family Court for a 'non-molestation order' (if personal protection is needed urgently) and for an 'occupation order' (if a victim has been or may about to be evicted from the family home), and/ or for a 'child arrangements order'. The Guide includes links to support charities, solicitors' firms specialising in legal aid and in domestic abuse and law clinics. It also sets out exactly how a litigant can seek a transcript of the court proceedings, correct an error in a court order and/ or appeal an order. It also provides the details of to whom any complaints against solicitors, barristers, Cafcass, the Police, and members of the judiciary (magistrates and judges) should be directed. The Guide was designed and written by members of the Bristol Local Family Justice Board and is intended to help victim-survivors in Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire and South Gloucester. It has, however, caught the imagination of Lord Ponsonby (the Under-Secretary of State for Justice) and is likely to be distributed widely across England and Wales. the Guide may also be useful to professionals (including lawyers, social workers, Cafcass, Police and charity workers) who support and advise victim-survivors of domestic abuse.
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