Domestic abuse

[Maria11]

I am seeking advice regarding my situation. I am a victim of domestic abuse. My partner is currently on bail for 3 months since December 28th. The police informed me that the evidence has been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for review.

The bail conditions include no contact with me and staying away from our home. However, I am worried about what will happen once the bail period ends. I have a 12-year-old son who witnessed some of the abuse and confirmed it to the police. I also submitted a recording of verbal abuse as evidence.

Currently, I live in the house we co-own (joint mortgage). My partner used to pay the mortgage, while I covered many of the expenses related to our child, such as school uniforms, lunches, holiday clubs, and trips. I am now waiting for Universal Credit to support me financially, as I cannot afford to pay the full mortgage on my own.

I fear that my partner might try to return to the house once the bail ends. I have been advised by a solicitor to apply for a Non-Molestation and Occupation Order closer to the bail's expiry date.

I would appreciate advice on the following:

1. What are the chances that his bail will be extended if the CPS hasn't reached a decision by the end of the current period?


2. What should I prepare in advance for the Non-Molestation and Occupation Orders?


3. Can I continue living in the house with my son even if I can only pay part of the mortgage?


4. How likely is it that the court will prevent him from returning home, given the evidence of abuse and my son’s statements?



Any guidance on how to proceed would be greatly appreciated.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Maria11

Thank you for your post and welcome to the discussion board. My name is Suzie, I am an adviser at Family Rights Group and will be replying to you today. I am sorry to hear of your situation. If must be a stressful and worrying time for you. If you have any immediate concerns regarding your safety, then I would advise you to contact the police on 999. You can also reach them on 101 for non-emergency matters.

At Family Rights Group we provide advice and support for people who are involved with children’s services. I.e. they have a social worker involved in their family life or wish to seek support from one. From the information you have provide, this does not appear to be the case for you and your son.

I would suggest you seek support from a domestic abuse charity to answer your questions.

I have listed below some organisations that you may find helpful. Further, I have added a link HERE to information on our website about why children’s services may become involved in family life where domestic abuse is of concern.


National domestic abuse helpline

Women’s Aid

Rights of Women

Sanctuary

I hope the information provide is helpful.

Best wishes, Suzi