New Family Court Rules on Domestic Abuse

James Munby, President of the Family Division, has issued a new Practice Direction (“PD”) to deal with Domestic Abuse in relation to Child Arrangements and Contact Orders. The changes have been made in the light of the recommendations made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Domestic Violence in its briefing dated 29 April 2016 and by Women’s Aid Federation of England (WAFE) in its ‘Nineteen Child Homicides’ report published in February 2016.

Click here to access the new PD in full “Practice Direction 12J (Child Arrangements and Contact Orders: Domestic Abuse and Harm)”

The new PD has been approved by the Minister of State and will come into force on 2 October 2017. It applies to all judges, including lay justices, whether sitting in the Family Court or in the High Court.

The new PD includes a new and much expanded definition of what is now referred to as ‘domestic abuse’, rather than, as before, ‘domestic violence’, as follows:

“‘Domestic violence’ includes any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. This can encompass, but is not limited to, psychological, physical, sexual, financial, or emotional abuse.

‘Controlling behaviour’ means an act or pattern of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour.

‘Coercive behaviour’ means 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.”

James Munby stated that:

“Domestic abuse in all its many forms, and whether directed at women, at men, or at children, continues, more than forty years after the enactment of the Domestic Violence and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1976, to be a scourge on our society. Judges and everyone else in the family system need to be alert to the problems and appropriately focused on the available remedies. PD12J plays a vital part.”

We have extensive experience of helping people with a domestic abuse history, and have professionals to whom we refer our clients to support them through this process.

Get Expert Advice

You can contact us for confidential family law advice. We offer free, no obligation, telephone consultations.

If you would like to book an initial phone consultation at no cost, please contact us today.

Copyright 2013-2024 Rainscourt Law LLP. All rights reserved.