Domestic Abuse Solicitors – 174 Family Law
Your safety is our priority. We offer rapid, non-judgmental legal protection and empathetic guidance to help keep you and your children safe from harm.
How do I know if mediation is an option for me?
Before you engage in mediation you will have a one to one consultation with the mediator in order to assess the appropriateness of mediation for the issues you seek to bring to the mediation table and in order to check that mediation is appropriate for you as an individual.
Most family disputes are appropriate for mediation, however if you have been in an abusive relationship or your ex wont cooperate with the mediator then mediation may not be for you.
I want to come to mediation but I don’t want to see my ex
The mediator will explore with you the reasons why you don’t wish to see your ex in this process and discuss with you Shuttle mediation whereby you will not see your ex in the process but the mediator will relay the conversations between you separately. There are pro’s and cons for this and the mediator will explain these to you at the preliminary MIAMs meet.
I don’t know what my ex has financially. How can I mediate in relation to finances
Before you can look to explore different financial outcomes the mediator will take you through the full financial information needed to be disclosed completely, consistent with the legal process, so that both you and the mediator has thorough insight into your finances picture as a whole before negotiations can take place.
If one party fails to produce all of their financial information the mediation process may have to come to an end or any outcome may subsequently be set aside. A Cohabitation Agreement can strengthen your relationship by lessening the worry about what would happen if you do separate, preventing disagreements and avoiding potentially costly Court proceedings.
I don’t want to come to mediation but the court is telling me I have to
Mediation is not compulsory and you do NOT need to come to mediation before you go to court. There are many benefits to mediation and all of the research supports mediation agreements are statistically more likely to be successful and on a longer term basis, than any court imposed order and are better for your children, this is why it is now mandatory to have an initial meet with a mediator on your own to find out more about the process in order to identify if mediation is an option for you. This is called a Mediation Information Assessment Meeting ( MIAMs ).
You can elect at the end of this meet not to come to mediation and the mediator can then give you a certificate to confirm that mediation is not appropriate for you which will then allow you to make an application to court.
What can I use mediation for?
Mediation is appropriate for most family disputes whether this be to help you sort out the arrangements for the children, what will happen with your home and whether you can claim on your ex’s pension.
We can also meet with your children so that they too can have a say about the arrangements which will be impacting upon them. However mediation can also help you with more discreet family disputes such as inheritance disputes, inter-family disputes such as whether or not a parent ought to go into a care home or stay at home.
Mediation is simply a platform for safe dialogue where all worries and concerns can be expressed, discussed and taken into consideration helping you to find palatable compromises and ways forward.
What constitutes as Domestic Abuse?
No one should suffer through a relationship with a violent partner. Domestic abuse comes in many forms and does not necessarily need to include physical violence. Domestic Abuse can be classed as:
Understanding Domestic Abuse
No one should suffer through a relationship with an abusive partner. Domestic abuse isn’t limited to physical violence: it includes controlling behaviour, emotional or financial abuse, manipulation, coercive tactics, and constant intimidation. You do not need to feel embarrassed or ask yourself how this happened.
At 174 Family Law, your safety and peace of mind come first. Our expert family solicitors provide non-judgmental, considerate, and rational support to help protect both you and your children. We act swiftly to put effective legal measures in place so you can feel safe again.
To speak to one of our expert family lawyers you can call us on 0151 8 32 32 53
OK, I think I'm experiencing Domestic Abuse - how can you help?
Seek Legal advice
We will need to understand whether or not there has been police intervention, if not, then this will have be sought before “Legal Aid” can be applied for in order to cover your legal costs of any applications to be made. Alternatively, we will look to agree the most cost-effective strategy that works for you.
Do you require emergency protection?
We will take your instructions, to fully understand the protection levels you require; and eligibility for legal aid, to consider whether or not a warning letter or urgent application to court is required.
Warning letter to your partner
Where immediate Court intervention is felt “too extreme” at this time, our legal experts can construct a warning letter advising your partner (ex or present) to refrain from the unacceptable behaviour and/or even leave the property voluntarily.
Urgent application to Court
If you require immediate protection, then we can attend Court on the same day of our meet and ask the Court to give you interim protection by way of a Non-Molestation Injunction prohibiting the intolerable behaviour for approximately 7 days before returning back to Court for your Final Injunction Order.
Notifying your ex of the "Interim Injunction"
For the Injunction to be valid, the Order must be “personally served”. We will instruct an agent to hand the order to them advising them of it’s contents and consequences of breaching it’s terms to include imprisonment for an arrestable offense.
Obtaining Final Injunction Order
We will represent you in Court to advocate your position to seek a long-term (~12 months) protective Order which can include excluding your ex from the family home by way of an Occupation Order to provide you with some time and space to consider your future options with a clear head. As before, this Final Injunction Order will need to be personally served before it is valid.
