Work relating to domestic abuse in England includes criminal offences such as assault, sexual offences and stalking, family proceedings for non‑molestation and occupation orders, and civil protections and immigration or housing consequences that arise when a relationship breaks down. A solicitor drafts and issues applications for non‑molestation and occupation orders under the Family Law Act 1996, applies for Domestic Abuse Protection Notices and Orders created by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, represents clients in the Magistrates' Court, Crown Court and family court, prepares witness, medical and digital evidence, and liaises with police, the Crown Prosecution Service, local authority children’s and housing teams and Multi‑Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs). Cases commonly proceed on urgent interim timetables and may involve concurrent criminal and civil strands.
What a solicitor handles in these matters
Solicitors handle the procedural interplay between protective family remedies and criminal prosecutions: drafting non‑molestation and occupation order applications, applying for Domestic Abuse Protection Notices and Orders under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, preparing witness, medical and digital evidence, making applications for special measures at hearings, securing disclosure from police and the CPS, and managing linked immigration or housing applications while coordinating with MARACs and statutory agencies.
