Archive for category: Domestic Abuse & Safeguarding

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Family court cases involving domestic abuse, coercive control or child safeguarding concerns require more than an isolated list of incidents.

Explore evidence-led guidance on Practice Direction 12J, post-separation abuse, fact-finding, protective orders, emotional harm and children’s welfare in England and Wales.

Learn how to explain patterns of behaviour, distinguish allegations from findings and connect evidence to risk and safe arrangements.

JSH Law offers defined-scope help with safeguarding chronologies, allegations schedules and hearing preparation.

JSH Law Resources and Guidance for Litigants in Person – practical family court information explained in plain English.© 2026 JSH Law Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Release Date Is Not a Safety Plan: What the October 2026 Prison Reforms Mean for Victims

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From 1 October 2026, some prisoners may become eligible for release earlier than victims expected. Domestic-abuse perpetrators have not been excluded as a category. This practical guide explains licence conditions, exclusion zones, child-arrangements applications and the steps victims can take now to protect themselves and their children.
JSH Law Resources and Guidance for Litigants in Person – practical family court information explained in plain English.© 2026 JSH Law Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pressured Into Swinging? UK Consent and Court Guide

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Being married, joining a swingers’ website or sending apparently enthusiastic messages does not automatically prove free consent. This practical guide explains how to report sexual coercion, preserve digital evidence, challenge a no-further-action decision and present relevant allegations in the Family Court.
JSH Law Resources and Guidance for Litigants in Person – practical family court information explained in plain English.© 2026 JSH Law Ltd. All rights reserved.

Florida Has Approved a Public Domestic Abuse Database. Should England and Wales Follow?

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Volusia County has approved Florida’s first county-operated domestic abuse offender database. Could a similar public register save lives in England and Wales—or would it create dangerous false reassurance? Jessica Susan Hill examines Clare’s Law and the difference between publishing information and actively managing risk.
JSH Law Resources and Guidance for Litigants in Person – practical family court information explained in plain English.© 2026 JSH Law Ltd. All rights reserved.

Family Court Legal Aid Crisis: Why the 340% Rise in Litigants in Person Seeking Protective Injunctions Matters

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A new Justice Committee report reveals a 340% increase since 2012 in litigants in person seeking protective injunctions. Jessica Susan Hill examines what this tells us about family court legal aid, domestic abuse safeguarding and the reality of seeking court protection without a lawyer.
JSH Law Resources and Guidance for Litigants in Person – practical family court information explained in plain English.© 2026 JSH Law Ltd. All rights reserved.

No More “Too Late”: The 2026 Time Limit Reform for Child Sexual Abuse Claims

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From 29 June 2026, survivors of child sexual abuse in England and Wales are no longer bound by the fixed three-year time limit for bringing civil personal injury claims. This reform recognises the reality of trauma, delayed disclosure and the barriers survivors face when seeking justice.
JSH Law Resources and Guidance for Litigants in Person – practical family court information explained in plain English.© 2026 JSH Law Ltd. All rights reserved.

Stacey Dooley’s Fallen Women: The Domestic Abuse Deaths We Still Do Not Investigate Properly

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Stacey Dooley’s new BBC documentary Fallen Women raises difficult questions about British women who died after falling from height, and whether domestic abuse, coercive control or violent relationships may have been overlooked. This article explains why these cases matter, what the law says about domestic abuse, and why safeguarding professionals, police, coroners and family courts must look at patterns, not isolated incidents.
JSH Law Resources and Guidance for Litigants in Person – practical family court information explained in plain English.© 2026 JSH Law Ltd. All rights reserved.

CPS Tells Prosecutors to Expose Patterns of Past Misconduct in Rape Trials

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The CPS has updated its Rape and Serious Sexual Offences guidance, encouraging prosecutors to consider suspects’ past patterns of behaviour where legally admissible. This article explains what bad character evidence is, why the suspect-focused approach matters, and why patterns of abuse are important in both criminal and family court contexts.
JSH Law Resources and Guidance for Litigants in Person – practical family court information explained in plain English.© 2026 JSH Law Ltd. All rights reserved.

Raneem’s Law Expanded: Why Domestic Abuse Specialists in 999 Control Rooms Matter

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Raneem’s Law is being expanded, with domestic abuse specialists embedded in 12 more 999 control rooms across England and Wales. This is a welcome safeguarding development, but the real test will be whether victims are heard earlier, risk is recognised properly, and police action changes before another family is failed.
JSH Law Resources and Guidance for Litigants in Person – practical family court information explained in plain English.© 2026 JSH Law Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Government Finally Recognises Economic Abuse in Financial Remedy Cases – Could This Transform Family Justice?

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The Government's new consultation, A Fairer End to Relationships, could mark a major turning point in family law. For the first time, ministers have explicitly recognised that domestic abuse and economic abuse can continue through the financial remedy process itself. From the controversial "gasp factor" to cohabitation rights and enforcement of financial orders, we examine what these proposals could mean for survivors, litigants in person and the future of family justice.
JSH Law Resources and Guidance for Litigants in Person – practical family court information explained in plain English.© 2026 JSH Law Ltd. All rights reserved.

If Victims Need Legal Advisers in Crown Court, Why Are Parents Still Facing Family Court Alone?

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The Government has announced a £5 million pilot scheme to provide independent legal advisers for domestic abuse victims in Crown Court cases. While the move is welcome, many family court litigants continue to face complex proceedings without legal representation or meaningful support. What does this reform mean, and what lessons could family justice learn from it?