Case study: Successfully protecting the most vulnerable

Problem

Our client contacted us urgently to seek a court order to protect himself and his family from his wife. His wife had assaulted one of their teenage children. She was excluded from the house when on bail but intended to return home when the bail conditions were lifted.

Advice

Our client and the children were at risk to their health because of the wife’s behaviour. We were required to raise immediate court proceedings supported by written, sworn statements to prove this to the court. The wife was due to return to the property in 48 hours and that therefore extreme urgency was required.

Outcome

We took steps to have the case urgently heard by the court to provide instant protection to the family by preventing the wife from returning home, and from approaching any member of the family. We were able to convert this into a long-term order which allowed our client to negotiate his divorce whilst his wife lived elsewhere and was forbidden from returning to the family home.