Longer term solutions

Once the person has found a safe place to stay short-term, s/he will need to think about what to do in the longer term. S/he will need to consider:-

whether s/he wishes to permanently separate from her/his partner. S/he should seek legal advice, Contact a solicitor in your area

whether s/he wants to take action to keep the violent partner away from her/him. S/he should seek legal advice, contact a solicitor in your area.

housing. Her/his legal rights to the family home will depend upon the type of housing s/he is leaving, the legal status of the relationship and whether or not s/he has children. The person should get legal advice to ensure that s/he does everything possible to protect rights to the family home. S/he should seek advice about the family home even if s/he is leaving permanently because, for example, if her/his partner sells the home s/he may lose money and possessions.

Where s/he wants to live long term

If s/he has children s/he will need to decide if s/he is taking the children with her/him. S/he may need to use the courts to resolve who the children should live with and with whom they should have contact. S/he should seek legal advice, contact a solicitor in your area.

S/he will need to sort out her/his benefit entitlement and tax arrangements and whether or not to apply to court for maintenance for her/himself. S/he may also want to apply to the Child Support Agency for a maintenance assessment for the children. If s/he claims certain benefits, s/he will automatically be contacted by the Child Support Agency, and s/he should keep this in mind if claiming maintenance from a violent partner could be distressing or threatening.

Adoption Methods of adoption Age of a child Conditions of adoption Freeing a child Adoption & engagement Illegal adoption Inter country adoption Adoption agencies Local authority Overturning an order Registration of an order Removal of a child Sole Applicants Children Care orders After a care order is made Court orders Appealing against an order Getting legal advice Contact order Residence order Local authority order Prohibited steps order Courts residence order Specific issue order Search & find order Parental responsibility order Care & supervision order Additional orders Parental responsibility order How long does an order last? What is a court order? The children's voice Living in care Children's act 1989 Children's education Babysitters Decision of care Child maintenance bonus Balls & other games Damage by children Children in need Child support agency Conciliation appointments Financial assistance Horse riding Legal aid Local authority duties Local authority services Noisy children Parents under 16 No order principle Paternity disputes Police & children Seat belts Court order of wardship Domestic Violence Getting help Legal remedies Local authority solutions Long term solutions Private accommodation Somewhere safe to stay Available options What is domestic violence ? Woman's aid refuges Frequently Asked Questions Consumer FAQ Divorce FAQ Private housing FAQ Public housing FAQ Timeshare FAQ Health Issues Access to medical records Confidentiality Consent Treatment & Examination Medical consent in Scotland Organ donation Registering with a GP Right to a GP Right to Die Right to hospital treatment Right to refuse treatment Homelessness Eligible for assistance Forced to leave home Intentional homelessness Joint waiting lists Leaving home voluntarily Local authority accommodation Local authority action Local authority offer of help Local connections Special circumstances Priority need Registered associations Threatened with homelessness Wills Intestacy Probate The formalities What to avoid

Housing Accommodation agency Agency discrimination Agency charges Agency non-charges Bankruptcy Housing benefit Consenting to a charge Conveyancying Delaying the possession Deposits and premiums Disrepair Ending a cohabitation Mortgage arrears Out dated tenancies Owning property Possession - rented property Re-possession - private property Secured loans Shorthold tenancies Tenants of mortgaged homes Warrant of execution What is foreclosure Injunctions Committal proceedings Freezing injunctions Housing injunctions Mentally disabled children Property injunctions Publication injunctions Search orders Stop opponent leaving country Neighbours Access to land Ball games Call the police Contact the landlord Damage done by children Damage from roots Dangerous trees Dealing with noisy neighbours Approaching the neighbour Environmental Health Dept Erecting a barrier Local planning department Neighbourhood noise Noisy Children Overhanging branches Parking space Shared amenities Solicitors letter Taking court action Tree preservation orders Relationships Financial arrangements Adultery Applying for a divorce Bigamy Breakdown and property Court based conciliation Defended divorce Divorce Divorce FAQ Ending a cohabitation Ending a relationship Family mediation Mediators association Forced marriage Getting engaged Judicial separation Legal aid Legally valid marriage Marriage Separating informally Marriage by proxy Non valid marriage National family mediator Out of court mediation Right to occupy the home Separation - 2 years Separation - 5 years Separation agreement Undefended divorce What the court will do Who can get married Who to inform Miscellaneous Sexual child abuse Change of name Evidence of change of name How to change your name Maternity rights Pension rights New pension rights Religion Sex - Heterosexuals Sex - Homosexuals Tattooing What is immigration law ?