Upholding children’s wishes about contact following domestic violence

Marie represented a Mother in a case where she alleged serious domestic violence by the Father of her children. She had obtained an injunction against him and the Father had applied for a child arrangements order to see the children. The Mother fled the home almost a year earlier and the children have not seen the Father since then, and nor do they want to.

The case was transferred to the County Court and the children were made parties to proceedings. At the DRA hearing the children’s Solicitor reported to the court that the children did not want to see their Father. As the children were now teenagers the Judge said that the Father would have a very difficult task to persuade him to make a contact order against their wishes and that he should consider withdrawing his application. The Father withdrew his application and the proceedings were concluded.