Pictured: Suzanne Oldnall, Senior Family Law Advisor at
Parkinson Wright LLP
Christmas should be a time of goodwill. Unfortunately, it is
also a time that puts a great deal of strain on families with cases
of domestic violence in particular rising over the festive period.
Statistics show that someone will report an incident of domestic
abuse every sixty seconds. As many as one in four women suffer
domestic violence during their lifetime and at least two women a
week die as a result of it.
Suzanne Oldnall, at Parkinson Wright LLP has specialised in
Family Law and domestic violence cases in Worcestershire for over
25 years. She says that many victims tolerate the abuse because
they fear the consequences if they speak out. However, there
are remedies available to help you take that first step to a
peaceful new year.
Women's Aid and Parkinson Wright work closely together to let
people know about the help that is available.
Types of orders that may be available include a
Non-molestation order which prevents the abuser from threatening or
using violence and can order him or her not to contact the
applicant by way of letter, text message or any other means of
communication or from approaching the applicant and to prevent
anyone else from doing so.
An Occupation Order can exclude the abuser from the family home
to enable the victim to enjoy peaceful occupation. The abuser will
then be prevented from re-entering the property. These applications
can be made to the court in an emergency situation without the
abuser knowing about it first if necessary.
Suzanne continues, I would like to reassure people that if you
are at risk, we make it our priority to discuss all possible ways
of keeping you and your children safe. All discussions are
completely confidential.