Helping to live without risk or fear of abuse

Our client and her infant daughter were staying temporarily with relatives having fled from domestic abuse. As she held joint social housing tenancy with her ex-partner, perpetrator of the domestic abuse, she had no automatic right to exclude ex-partner from the property. This meant that she was jointly and severally liable for the rent and bills at the property, despite not being able, for her own safety, to be in occupation. 

Lewes District Citizens Advice advised client on access to legal services so she could return to her home and occupy it with her daughter, without risk or fear of abuse from her ex-partner. We advised her to apply for legal injunctions; Non-Molestation Order and Occupation Order, to ensure she could return to her home and legally exclude her ex-partner. We advised our client on economic abuse support: she was concerned about the level of debt she had accrued; approximately £6000, much of which had amassed under the influence of her ex-partner, pressuring her to sign credit agreements on his behalf. 

We advised our client that she may have experienced coerced debt and economic abuse, and signposted her to Surviving Economic Abuse for further advice and practical support. Meanwhile we initiated debt support by exploring debt management and long-term solutions. We provided a full benefits check and identified a number of ways to maximise her income, including advice and support around securing child maintenance from her ex-partner.