Women often stay with their abusers because of fear, afraid that the abuser will become more violent if they try to leave. Some fear that they will lose their children. Many believe that they cannot make it on their own. Is this you?
Some abused women believe that the abuse is their fault. They think that they can stop the abuse if they just act differently. Some cannot admit that they are abused women. Others feel pressured to stay in the relationship. They may feel cut off from social support and resources. Abused women often feel that they are alone and have nowhere to turn for help. Does this ring any bells with you and the life you are leading?
Here at Milne Moser, we specialise in providing legal advice tailored to the needs of survivors. We can help you understand your rights and the legal options available to you. In urgent situations, we can assist and make emergency applications to the court to ensure your immediate protection from an abuser. We provide pragmatic and non-judgmental advice and will help you navigate a clear strategy that recognises the need for a constructive dialogue to occur, breaking the cycle that has been taking place.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, we will become part of your support network, providing the expert advice you need at each step which will in turn allow you to heal and recover and look forward to a happy future. From helping you prepare a case and seek injunctions against an abusive partner, to referring you to other sources of support and advice, there are numerous ways we can help.
Our Domestic Violence Solicitors are sensitive and knowledgeable and can expertly guide you throughout the entire process.
In the vast majority of cases, domestic abuse is experienced by women and perpetrated by men. At least one woman a week is killed by her male partner or former partner in England and Wales.
Domestic abuse can happen in any relationship irrespective of someone’s sexuality or gender identity. For LGBTQ+ victims of domestic abuse we recognise the ways in which lesbian, gay, bisexual people and trans people can experience abuse and the barriers that can sometimes prevent you from accessing support. We provide urgent, confidential support for LGBTQ+ individuals experiencing domestic abuse,
Most domestic abuse is directed at women and girls, but men can also be victims of domestic abuse, both in gay and straight relationships. If you are a man who is a victim or survivor of domestic abuse you can access all our services. Male victim are two and a half times less likely to tell anyone than female victims. We support male victims of domestic abuse on all legal issues including family access, injunctions, and non-molestation orders.
We also have experience in making and defending a range of emergency applications. Sadly, it can sometimes be the case that you are falsely accused of perpetrating domestic violence. Our family team are also on hand to help and support to you in these difficult circumstances. If you have received an application for a Non-Molestation Order and received a court date, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible. You may wish to challenge the Non-Molestation Order and ask for the court to determine that the allegations are false.
To speak to a specialist please contact our family team at Milne Moser on 01539 729786.
What is domestic violence?
Domestic violence is any kind of behaviour that a person uses, or threatens to use, to control an intimate partner.
Domestic abuse does not always include physical violence. Domestic abuse as an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, by a partner or ex-partner.
The two key elements are threat and control. Domestic violence can take various forms:
Physical – Violent actions such as hitting, beating, pushing, and kicking. In many cases physical abuse becomes more frequent and severe over time
Sexual – Includes any sexual acts that are forced on one partner by the other
Psychological and/or emotional abuse – Includes a wide range of behaviours such as intimidation, isolating the victim from friends and family, controlling where the victim goes, making the victim feel guilty or crazy, and making unreasonable demands, making derogatory remarks. Undermining an individual’s self-esteem, constant criticism, insults, put-downs, and name-calling
Economic – Examples include limiting the victim’s access to family income, preventing the victim from working or forcing the victim to work, destroying the victim’s property, and making all the financial decisions
Tech Abuse – disconnecting the phone and internet, taking away, or destroying your mobile, tablet or laptop
Harassment – following you; checking up on you; not allowing you any privacy (for example, opening your mail, going through your laptop, tablet or mobile), repeatedly checking to see who has phoned you; embarrassing you in public; accompanying you everywhere you go
Choosing to end a relationship with an abuser is an extremely difficult decision, and it may take a survivor time to decide whether to leave, and to think about how to do this safely.
Domestic abuse is about control, and when a survivor ends a relationship, it is common for an abuser to try to regain control. They may do this by saying, ‘sorry’ a lot, or by saying that their behaviour will be different in the future, or by using gifts, kindness, and loving words, or gestures towards the survivor, to try to persuade the person to return.
A victim may still be in love with their partner and believe the partner when they say they are sorry and it won’t happen again; you may be frightened for your life or for the safety of your children if you leave; you may have nowhere to go; you may have no financial independence.
Abusers often isolate their partners from family and friends to control them, making it even more difficult for an abused woman to exit the relationship.
Leaving any relationship is never an easy decision to make, nor an easy one to carry out. What should I do if I think abuse is happening to me?
If you feel very scared go to a place where you feel safe. Call for help from the police; a trusted friend or neighbour; your doctor or your child’s teacher or speak to a support helpline.
How we can help
At Milne Moser we are regularly instructed on cases where findings in relation to domestic abuse are being considered by the court. We work closely with victims and those impacted by domestic abuse to consider how such abuse should impact the arrangements for their children.
We are experienced and skilled in advising on protective injunctions, reporting the abuse to the police, social services, and other agencies. We work closely with those providing services to domestic abuse victims to ensure those impacted by domestic abuse are supported and empowered.
Is it time to break the cycle and make a fresh start? For further information and help, please contact our family team at Milne Moser on 01539 729786.
