Injunctions
You can apply for an injunction if you are or have been in a violent relationship with your abuser. Any one of the below scenarios would be classed as a relationship in this case:
- Are or were married or in a civil partnership.
- Are or were engaged to be married or had agreed to form a civil partnership.
- Are or were living together (this includes same-sex and opposite-sex couples).
- Live or have lived in the same household, (but not as a tenant, or lodger).
- Are or were in an intimate personal relationship.
An injunction is applied for at the County Court:
- You or your solicitor will take a statement about the abuse and fill in the application form (FL401)
- You will have to attend one or possibly more Court hearings before the injunction is granted.
- Your solicitor if you decide to have one will speak on your behalf in Court.
- You can take family members, friends or an outreach worker to support you, although they will probably have to wait outside the courtroom whilst your application is being heard.
If you need an injunction very quickly because you are at risk of further harm:
- Your solicitor can make an application for an 'ex parte' injunction. This means that the Court can consider your application without your abuser being in Court.
- The papers will be served hopefully that day.
- There will be a full Court hearing possibly 7 days later, to give your abuser an opportunity to put forward their case.
- You will have to attend this hearing and you may have to give evidence.
The National Centre for Domestic Violence specialises in helping victims abuse obtain injunctions from Court to protect them from further abuse. Meeting with solicitors and proceeding through the Court system can be a daunting prospect for anybody, but the NCDV aims to make the whole experience fast, friendly and worthwhile.
Emergency telephone: 08009 70 20 70
Text: NVDC to 6077
Non emergency telephone: 08709 22 07 04
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