Simon Bennett Matrimonial Law Specialists - Emergency Procedures

<body stylesrc="http://www.divorce-uk.com/emergency.htm">  <div align="left"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="440"> <tr> <td width="15"><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="2"><img src="../images/dotty.gif" width="1" height="1" alt="dotty2.gif (810 bytes)" hspace="15" vspace="15"></font></td> <td width="425"><p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="2">In any case in which a marriage has broken down, there are likely to be strong feelings and tensions between the parties, and occasionally it is found that there has been violence or threats of violence or harassment during the course of the relationship. It is essential therefore that there should be opportunity to make applications to the Court for emergency protection orders, both in relation to personal safety and also occupation of a property, in order to preserve the position pending the outcome of the case.</font></p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="2">The law relating to emergency procedures has recently been updated and rationalised and in relation to matrimonial cases, now exists in Part IV of the Family Law Act 1996. Part of this Act which relates to harassment and domestic violence has already been brought into force, and it simplifies previous law and makes it easier for parties to obtain protection when needed.</font></p> <dl> <dt><b><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="2">Non-Molestation Order</font></b></dt> <dd><p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="2">Firstly an application can be made for a Non-Molestation Order, which can include protection against violence, harassment or pestering. This is an extremely wide-ranging order, which can extend to telephone calls, sending letters or messages or any action which can be regarded as harassment of the applicant. Such an order can technically be made even if the parties involved still reside under the same roof, although understandably, it would be extremely difficult to monitor an order which might be made in such circumstances.</font></p> </dd> <dt><b><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="2">Occupation Order</font></b></dt> <dd><p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="2">An Occupation Order would exclude a party from the family home. The applicant needs to demonstrate that they are entitled to occupy the home, either under the general law, or by virtue of matrimonial home rights. The application can be made against anyone with whom the applicant is associated, including not only a spouse but a cohabitant, former spouse or former cohabitant. In deciding whether to make an Occupation Order excluding the other party from the property, the Court must have regard to all the circumstances of the case, particularly the housing needs and resources of the parties and the children, the financial resources of the parties, and the likely effect of an order (or lack of one) on the health, safety and well-being of the parties or relevant child. The Court has to balance the likely harm to the applicant and any child which might be caused by not making an order with the harm to the other spouse/partner if the order is made. It is possible for cohabitants and other family members to claim these and other rights provided that they can show that they are associated persons, or connected persons within the meaning of the Act.</font></p> </dd> <dt><b><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="2">Orders under the Housing Act 1966</font></b></dt> <dd><p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="2">Quite apart from the powers to make non-molestation orders and occupation orders between parties, the Court also has power under the Housing Act 1966 to make orders relating to what is known as stalking. This is not limited to purely domestic situations, and a Court is able to grant an Injunction to prevent a person engaging in conduct likely to cause a nuisance or annoyance to a person or other anti-social behaviour which is defined by the Act.</font></p> </dd> <dt><b><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="2">Power of Arrest</font></b></dt> <dd><p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="2">Where an application for an Injunction is made, in appropriate cases if the Court considers it just, it can grant a Power of Arrest to be attached to the Injunction, whereby the Police are authorised and required to arrest a person who is deemed to have breached the order. If orders are breached by the offending party, the order can be enforced by the Court, by an application under a Warrant for Arrest, and the offender will be brought before the Judge and required to explain the circumstances of the alleged breach. If an order is breached, the Court has a range of remedies and sanctions, including fines, penalties and even imprisonment in extreme cases. Suspended orders can also be made.</font></p> </dd> <dt><b><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="2">Procedure for Emergency Orders</font></b></dt> <dd><p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="2">The procedure for making applications for emergency orders is that in an emergency the Court can consider an application made with only one party present before the Judge at the hearing in the first instance. This is what is known as an ex parte application. When an order is made ex parte, the Court is bound to give the Respondent the opportunity to make representations as soon as it is just and convenient. A follow-up hearing is then likely to be arranged for the Injunction Order to be reviewed, and for the other party to be allowed to make representations. The orders which the Court will make will be ordered to last for a specified period, or until Decree Absolute, but an Occupation Order can only be made for a maximum of six months (although this is renewable).</font></p> </dd> </dl> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div align="center"><center> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="440" align="left"> <tr> <td colspan="9" width="440"><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="1"><img src="../images/dotty.gif" width="1" height="1" alt="dotty2.gif (810 bytes)" hspace="10" vspace="10"></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="440" colspan="9" bgcolor="#003366"><img src="../images/dotty.gif" width="1" height="1" alt="dotty2.gif (810 bytes)"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="440" colspan="9"><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="1"><img src="../images/dotty.gif" width="1" height="1" alt="dotty2.gif (810 bytes)" hspace="10" vspace="10"></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="2" bgcolor="#003366"><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="1"><img src="../images/dotty.gif" width="2" height="2" alt="dotty2.gif (810 bytes)"></font></td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="2"><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="1"><img src="../images/dotty.gif" width="4" height="4" alt="dotty2.gif (810 bytes)"></font></td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="214"><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="1">[<a href="introduction.htm" target="_top">Introduction</a>] [<a href="childcare.htm" target="_top">Childcare</a>]<br> [<a href="emergency.htm" target="_top">Emergency Procedures</a>]<br> [<a href="financial.htm" target="_top">Financial</a>] [<a href="the_firm.htm" target="_top">The Firm</a>] [<a href="costs.htm" target="_top">Costs</a>]<br> [<a href="divorce.htm" target="_top">Divorce</a>] [<a href="questions.htm" target="_top">Common Questions</a>]<br> [<a href="updates.htm" target="_top">Updates</a>] [<a href="contact_us.htm" target="_top">Contacting Us</a>] [<a target="_top" href="../index.html">Home</a>]</font></td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="2"><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="1"><img src="../images/dotty.gif" width="4" height="4" alt="dotty2.gif (810 bytes)"></font></td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="2" bgcolor="#003366"><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="1"><img src="../images/dotty.gif" width="2" height="2" alt="dotty2.gif (810 bytes)"></font></td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="2"><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="1"><img src="../images/dotty.gif" width="4" height="4" alt="dotty2.gif (810 bytes)"></font></td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="214"><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="1">35 High Street, Marlow,<br> Buckinghamshire, SL7 1AU<br> Tel: +44(0)1628 478088<br> Fax: +44(0)1628 474441<br> Email: <a href="mailto:info@divorce-uk.com" target="_top">info@divorce-uk.com</a></font></td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="2"><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="1"><img src="../images/dotty.gif" width="4" height="4" alt="dotty2.gif (810 bytes)"></font></td> <td align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#003366" width="2"><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="1"><img src="../images/dotty.gif" width="2" height="2" alt="dotty2.gif (810 bytes)"></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="440" colspan="9"><font face="MS Sans Serif" size="1"><img src="../images/dotty.gif" width="1" height="1" alt="dotty2.gif (810 bytes)" hspace="10" vspace="10"></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="440" bgcolor="#003366" colspan="9"><img src="../images/dotty.gif" width="1" height="1" alt="dotty2.gif (810 bytes)"></td> </tr> </table> </center></div> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <div align="right"> </div>  </body>