AIBU to be worried about being called as a witness at family court?

[sizzlesizzle2025]

My friend was a victim of domestic abuse she was treated horribly by her husband. Mostly controlling behaviour.
She is asked if I will give a statement and know that that may mean I will be called as a witness as their were situations I witnessed. I am happy to be a witness but he is a nasty piece of work and I feel afraid if I had to speak in front of him. Can anyone tell me more about what being a witness in family court entails?

I doubt you will be called. I think most domestic violence orders are granted based on oral evidence, and photos/texts etc etc. Because family law proceedings are dealt with in-camera (in private), they rely less on witnesses testimony.

If you are called, you should be able to ask for special measures - e.g. a screen between you and the XH in the courtroom so he can't look at you.

It would be a finding of fact hearing

it is for a child arrangements order where she has raised allegations of coercive control and varying forms of abuse. There is going to be a fact finding hearing and my friend said that this is where I might be asked to be a witness. She only asked me today but said the solicitor will work on my witness statement. I don’t know who decides if I have to be a witness in court or if they just go by my statement - no experience of family court at all. No problem giving a statement speaking in court scares me - I’d still do it though.

Yes this. There will be options

Thanks for this. Does anyone have experience of. Ring a witness in family court? Apparently you are crossed examined. I don’t know anyone who has been through this process and there is very little on line from the perspective of a witness in family court, only the parties directly involved.

Being cross examined means being asked questions about what you say in your witness statement. They might try to tease out inconsistencies (for example you could not have seen what you say you saw because your view was blocked). The solicitor should guide you but basically just tell the truth, listen to the question and keep your answers brief, and don’t try to second guess or be clever.

you might well not be called to give evidence in person anyway.

Well done for doing this.