Domestic abuse

Domestic abuse is a pattern of behaviour designed to control someone. It can happen at any point in a relationship, including after you have split up. Domestic abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of age, background, gender, religion, sexuality or ethnicity, and it can take different forms:

• physical abuse
• sexual abuse
• financial abuse
• coercive and controlling behaviour, including gaslighting and emotional abuse
• digital/online abuse
• so-called ‘honour-based’ violence
• forced marriage
• female genital mutilation (FGM)

Domestic abuse isn’t always physical. Coercive control is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten the victim.  It is designed to make a person dependent on their abuser by isolating them from support, exploiting them, depriving them of independence and regulating their everyday behaviour.

An IDVA - an independent domestic violence advocate/advisor - is a specialist professional who works with someone who has suffered domestic abuse - and any children - to help keep them safe. They can help with practical things such as home security or advice on housing options as well as helping navigate the legal options in both the civil and criminal courts.

If you make allegations during family law proceedings and your ex denies them, the judge will consider whether there should be a fact finding hearing. This is a special hearing which is arranged just to decide whether or not the allegations are true. Fact finding hearings are most common in children proceedings but they can also happen in other family law proceedings such as for domestic violence injunctions or financial disputes.  A judge will listen to the evidence and will make a decision about each allegation.  Those allegations that are found to be true can be taken into account when other decisions are made.