Domestic Abuse Solicitors
Our specialist family lawyers can offer you support, empathy and understanding. As well as being immediately available on the phone, our domestic abuse solicitors can, where appropriate, help you obtain emergency protection within 24 hours. Call us on
In some circumstances, our domestic abuse solicitors can also assist with contesting a Non-Molestation Application or Order.
Contact our domestic abuse solicitors
To speak to a member of our Domestic Abuse team, call us on 0117 325 2929 or complete our online enquiry form.
What is domestic abuse?
Domestic abuse can be defined as incidents or patterns of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour. It can include sexual violence and in the majority of cases, by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer.
Types of domestic abuse
Domestic abuse can take many forms, including:
- Physical abuse: for example, punching, hitting, throwing or kicking.
- Emotional/mental abuse: for example, controlling behaviour and coercive control, causing you to feel scared or threatening behaviour.
- Sexual abuse: forcing you to do sexual acts you do not consent to.
- Verbal abuse: for example, name-calling or shouting.
- Financial abuse: for example, not allowing you to access money.
- Harassment/stalking: for example, regularly giving you gifts, making unwanted communication or following you.
- Online or digital abuse: for example, abuse over social media or using spyware.
How our domestic abuse solicitors can help
Our domestic abuse lawyers will do all they can to help you. We will provide advice and support throughout the process and make sure that you are aware of all the legal options.
Applying for a Non-Molestation Order
Our domestic abuse solicitors can apply for a Non-Molestation Order on your behalf. This prevents an abuser from using or threatening to use violence towards you and your children, harassing or pestering you or your children, and coming near your property.
Applying for an Occupation Order
An Occupation Order states who can or cannot live in, visit or enter a property or an area around it. Our specialist team can prepare an application for an Occupation Order and a statement and submit it to the court.
Defending a Non-Molestation Order
If someone has applied for a Non-Molestation Order against you and you dispute the allegations made, our domestic abuse lawyers can assist you in contesting it.
The courts (understandably) take domestic abuse allegations very seriously, but options are available to respondents of Non-Molestation Orders to resolve the matter. In these cases, the support of our expert solicitors is invaluable.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
FGM is a painful and harmful procedure that is illegal in the UK and is classed as child abuse.
Our expert FGM lawyers can help in cases where one parent or another family member wishes to take a child abroad (or already has) for FGM, and you need help in applying for a Female Genital Mutilation Protection Order (FGMPO) that can prevent this from happening.
Forced marriage
Forced marriage is when someone is taken abroad and forced into a marriage without their consent. This often involves coercion, physical threats or abuse, or emotional blackmail.
Forced marriage is illegal in the UK. Often, the individual is a vulnerable adult or child who is misled about the purpose of their journey abroad and then faces duress into marriage when they arrive.
Our domestic abuse solicitors represent individuals at risk of being taken abroad for forced marriage and can secure Forced Marriage Protection Orders (FMPOs) to prevent this from happening. We can also support victims of forced marriage who are unable to safely return to the UK.
Contact our domestic abuse solicitors in Bristol
If you need to speak to someone, call our specialist solicitors in Bristol and South Gloucestershire on 0117 325 2929 or complete our online enquiry form.
Barcan and Kirby is a proud member of The Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA), a growing business network that raises awareness and provides resources for employers to help tackle domestic abuse.