Archive for category: Domestic Abuse & Safeguarding

You are here: / / Domestic Abuse & Safeguarding

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.

Child Safety and Emotional Harm in Family Court: Understanding Risk Beyond Bruises

/
0 Comments
In Family Court proceedings, harm is not limited to physical…

When Coercive Control Leads to Conviction — Why Sentencing Still Falls Short

/
0 Comments
A recent coercive control conviction in Surrey resulted in a short custodial sentence. But even where conviction is secured, sentencing often fails to reflect the cumulative harm of years of domination and fear. Here’s what that means for survivors navigating family court.

When a Parent Discloses Strangulation and has a SEN Child: What to Do Next (UK Family Court)

/
0 Comments
When you have SEN children and the other parent is angry, aggressive, and unsafe — especially where strangulation has been disclosed or admitted to professionals — the priority is protection and stability, not “sorting contact”. This guide explains what you can expect from a 15-minute JSH Law consultation, the urgent legal steps that usually come first, and the key applications to consider: FL401 non-molestation, occupation orders, C100 + C1A (only where children’s arrangements must be stabilised now), and the legal aid pathway.

When Court Process Becomes a Tool of Abuse – Why post-separation abuse, litigants in person, and procedural design cannot be treated separately

/
0 Comments
One of the most persistent myths in family justice is that…

Child Maintenance Arrears: What the Law Really Says – and What to Do When the System Fails You

/
0 Comments
Where non-payment of child maintenance is persistent, strategic, or accompanied by obstruction and delay, it may form part of post-separation economic abuse.
Documents and courtroom setting illustrating how family courts assess disputed allegations using the balance of probabilities.

Should an Ex-Partner’s Allegations Be Taken at Face Value in Family Court?

/
0 Comments
Are allegations in family court automatically believed? This article explains the real standard of proof, how fact-finding works, and why courts act cautiously even before allegations are decided.
Woman and young child sitting in fear while an abusive partner raises a fist, illustrating domestic abuse while living under the same roof and the need for urgent family court protection.jsh law ltd

He Raised His Fist While We’re Still Living Together — What Do I Do Now?

/
0 Comments
When threats happen during divorce, safety comes first. This guide explains urgent protective orders, what to do immediately, and how the Family Court responds.
Family court scene showing a judge’s gavel resting on legal documents including a C100 form, representing domestic abuse allegations and the application of Practice Direction 12J.jsh law ltd

Domestic Abuse Allegations and PD12J:

/
0 Comments
When allegations of domestic abuse are raised in family court proceedings, Practice Direction 12J governs how the court must respond. Yet many litigants in person discover too late that PD12J has not been properly applied. This article explains what the court is required to do, the most common procedural failures, and how litigants in person can raise PD12J calmly and effectively without escalating conflict.
A family court setting showing a judge’s chair, legal documents including a C1A form, and a gavel, illustrating the issue of false allegations in family court proceedings.jsh law ltd

False Allegations in the Family Court

/
0 Comments
How litigants in person can respond calmly, protect credibility,…