If you are experiencing domestic abuse, harassment, threats or controlling behaviour, our domestic violence and abuse solicitors are here to help you explain your options, secure legal protection, and connect you with specialist support organisations to help keep you and your family safe.
Talk to Banner Jones. We are ready to help you.
If you have experienced abusive behaviour from someone within your family network and are concerned it may amount to domestic abuse, it is important to know that help is available. Speaking to an experienced domestic violence and abuse solicitor can help you understand your options and take the first steps towards protecting yourself and your family. We can help you access specialist support organisations.
Domestic abuse can affect anyone, regardless of their gender, age, race, religion, or background. It is easy to feel trapped or believe there is nowhere to turn, but this is simply not the case. Our domestic violence and abuse solicitors will provide clear and confidential legal advice, help you get the protection you need, and signpost you to trusted support organisations that can offer wider practical and emotional support.
Survivors of domestic abuse have several legal paths available to protect themselves and their children. Our family law and domestic violence solicitors will talk through these options with you to find the safest approach for your circumstances.
You should report all abusive behaviours to the police. The police can investigate whether a criminal offence has been committed and where appropriate, take protective steps. A charging decision may be made by the police or the Crown Prosecution Service. Even where no criminal charges are ultimately brought, the police can record the incident, assess any safeguarding concerns and help build a picture of ongoing behaviour. This information can be important if protection through the family court or other agencies is needed.
In an emergency or if you or someone else is in immediate danger, you should always call 999. For non-emergencies, contact the police by calling 101 or report the incident online.
Following an arrest, the police may impose bail conditions to help protect you, such as preventing the perpetrator from contacting you or entering certain areas, including your home. If the abusive behaviour does not amount to a criminal offence, there may still be legal options available to help protect you, as outlined below.
This is a formal letter sent from our domestic violence and abuse solicitors directly to the person hurting or harassing you. It clearly outlines their behaviour and tells them to stop immediately, warning them that court action will follow if they continue. In some cases, a carefully worded solicitor’s letter can be effective in stopping certain behaviours. However, this is not suitable in every case, particularly if there is a risk that the letter could escalate the behaviour. We will consider safety first before advising whether this step is appropriate and we will never send one if we believe it might increase your risk of harm.
If a warning letter does not stop the behaviour, our domestic violence and abuse solicitors can apply to the family courts for protective legal orders. In urgent cases, it may be possible to apply to apply for these orders without giving notice to the abuser, meaning the abuser is not told about the court hearing until after the protective order is already in place. The court will decide whether this is appropriate.
Legal Aid may be available for domestic abuse injunction, subject to financial eligibility and merits. Our domestic violence and abuse solicitors can assess your position and eligibility during our very first conversation. There are different levels of funding available, and we will handle the applications to the Legal Aid Agency on your behalf to help cover your legal fees wherever possible.
Domestic violence and abuse can take many forms and does not necessarily involve physical violence. It can include emotional, psychological, sexual, financial, or coercive controlling behaviour, and the harm it causes is not always visible.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 defines domestic abuse as abusive behaviour between people aged 16 or over who are personally connected. This includes people who are or have been married, engaged, or in a civil partnership, those who have been in an intimate personal relationship, parents of the same child, and many family relationships, including parents, grandparents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, step-parents, and step-children.
Children may also be affected by domestic abuse, even where the behaviour is not directed at them personally. The law recognises that children can be victims in their own right where they see, hear or experience the effects of abuse.
Domestic abuse can include:
Domestic abuse is often thought of as a marital issue, but it can affect anyone, regardless of their age, gender, relationship status, or living arrangements.
If you are worried about someone, it is important to lookout for the signs of domestic violence and abuse. Domestic abuse does not necessarily have to be physical, and the emotional harm it can cause is often much harder to recognise.
An abuser will often use controlling behaviour to isolate someone from their friends and family, making them increasingly reliant on the abuser. They may discourage them from seeing loved ones, accuse them of cheating, monitor their communications, or make them feel responsible for the abuse they are experiencing. Over time, the person may begin to question their own memories or perception of reality through gaslighting, or see controlling behaviour as normal.
If you are worried someone, try to start a gentle conversation and look out for signs such as:
Of course, some of these behaviours can happen in healthy relationships – giving a large gift on a special occasion can simply be a genuine act of love. However, if a person has been trapped in a long-term abusive relationship, they may have come to view these controlling behaviours as completely normal or acceptable.
If you are unsure whether to be concerned about your own situation or someone else's, remember that help is available. Many support organisations offer free, confidential advice to help you figure out the next best steps safely.
If you need immediate emotional support, housing advice, or emergency safety planning, our domestic violence and abuse solicitors highly recommend contacting these dedicated organisations:
We have deep experience managing domestic abuse cases and recognise how incredibly stressful these situations are. Our domestic violence an abuse solicitors in Sheffield, Chesterfield, Dronfield and Mansfield handle every call with total confidentiality, sensitivity, and care.
We understand that every family situation is unique and that coming forward takes immense courage. Our priority is help you take protective steps as quicky and safely as possible.
Legal terms can feel overwhelming, especially during a crisis. Our domestic violence and abuse solicitors speak plainly and use clear English to explain your options, keeping you safely updated on our progress using your preferred, most secure method of contact.
As an established, trusted law firm, we support survivors of domestic violence and abuse cases right across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire. We can liaise with relevant agencies and signpost you to trusted local support services.
We are completely transparent about fees and will check your eligibility for Legal Aid immediately. Where Legal Aid isn't available, we offer affordable fixed-fee advice packages, where possible, so you face no hidden costs or unexpected financial stress.
Please call Banner Jones on 0344 659 9050 today or visit our abuse and domestic violence solicitors in Sheffield, Dronfield, Chesterfield and Mansfield. We are here to support you and your family every step of the way.
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Talk to Banner Jones. We are ready to help you.
For standard family law cases such as Children Act proceedings, the Legal Aid Agency will only accept specific forms of evidence. This might include a police caution, a criminal conviction, or a protective letter from a medical professional, social worker, or support organisation. You can find sample letters to request this evidence on the Government website, and we would ask that you gather and provide this proof before we can assess you for Legal Aid funding.
However, there are a few important exceptions where you do not need to provide pre-existing evidence of abuse to qualify for Legal Aid:
Please note that any evidence or allegations you submit must be directly related to the specific person you are currently having problems with. You will not qualify for Legal Aid if the evidence relates to a previous or different partner. Our domestic violence solicitors in Sheffield, Chesterfield, Dronfield and Mansfield will guide you through these requirements and help you understand exactly what evidence you need to provide.
Yes. You have every right to instruct a to prepare court applications, represent you within court proceedings and protect your interests. If you choose our team at Banner Jones, your dedicated specialist will stand by you throughout the entire process, preparing documents and speaking on your behalf in court so you don't have to face the process alone.
Restraining orders are generally issued through the criminal courts during criminal proceedings against an abuser. If the police are not prosecuting the individual, our domestic violence and abuse solicitors can help you achieve similar protections through the family courts by applying for a non-molestation order and/or an occupation order to keep them away from you and your home.
Yes. Everything you discuss with our domestic violence solicitors will be treated in the strictest confidence. We understand how difficult it can be to ask for help and will always communicate with you sensitively and in a way that prioritises your safety.
No. You do not have to report the abuse to the police before seeking legal advice, but it is always advisable to. Our domestic abuse solicitors can explain all of your legal options and, where appropriate, advise whether involving the police may be beneficial in your circumstances.
Many people are unsure whether the behaviour they are experiencing amounts to domestic abuse, particularly where there has been no physical violence. If something doesn't feel right, speaking to a support organisation or an experienced domestic abuse solicitor can help you understand your situation.
Yes. Depending on your circumstances, protective orders may also cover your children. Our domestic violence solicitors in Sheffield, Chesterfield, Dronfield and Mansfield will explain the options available and advise on the most appropriate course of action to help keep your family safe.
We understand that domestic abuse situations can be extremely urgent. Our family law team will assess your circumstances as quickly as possible and advise on the most appropriate legal steps. Where necessary, our domestic violence solicitors can make emergency applications to the family court to help protect you and your children.
NAPAC: NAPAC is a UK-registered charity offering a range of services and support to adult survivors of all types of childhood abuse, including neglect and physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.
NSPCC: The NSPCC is a UK-registered children’s charity fighting against child abuse. They help protect children from child abuse and also help those who have been abused to rebuild their lives.
Samaritans: The Samaritans is a charity that provides confidential, emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to anyone suffering emotional distress or struggling to cope across the UK.
HAVOCA: Help for Adult Victims of Child Abuse (HAVOCA) is a forum run by adult survivors of child abuse, offering support, friendship, and advice to those who have been affected by childhood abuse.
Male Survivors Partnership: Male Survivors is an organisation which provides life-changing support, including forums and a range of recovery therapies to male adult survivors of child abuse.
Hourglass (formerly Action on Elder Abuse): Hourglass is a specialist organisation in the UK that focuses on elder abuse and offers a range of guidance and support services to those affected.
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