Legal advice please - first few steps from abusive husband

[SmallGreenStripes]

I have a thread on the relationships board on behalf of my friend
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/4269215-Help-splitting-up-from-abusive-DH

He is now sending her several emails a day asking for things. She definitely wants this to be a permanent split.

She doesn’t have much money. She hopes to use the free half hour to
Get advice on contact arrangements (he assaulted one of their DC, she doesn’t feel they are safe with him)
Get advice on the home - she lives there with the children, he left and left his keys. It is a joint mortgage, he currently pays it but she could
Start divorce proceedings

She has reported the incident with the son to the police and their schools, she’s awaiting a visit.

What should she do, in what order! Many thanks for any advice.

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Sorry not a lawyer but have been they abuse and divorce with DC.

Surely she’s entitled to legal aid if he assaulted one of the DC?? She needs to refuse contact and could start the child protection ball rolling by calling social services. They’ll end up involved anyway via the police. Has she got evidence of the assault?

What’s the H asking for in his messages?

RightsofWomen website has loads of excellent legal advice about this kind of situation, also a free helpline, but it can take ages to get through.

Change locks (in case he took copies before leaving the keys, it seems a bit “too” helpful....)
Gather evidence of the assault
Ring Women’s Aid or another DA organization for support and advice.

Thanks @JanFebAnyMonth

She is waiting for the police to visit but they seem to view her as a low priority because he can’t get into the house at the moment. Yes her DS wrote down what happened and she has also told the schools. She was told that the police would refer to DV support worker and ss but because they haven’t come yet there’s been no movement there.

H wants clothes and things from the house, which she has arranged. At first he wanted his keys back (he left them accidentally, they were not with his car keys) but has stopped asking for those. Now mostly it is about how much he loves and misses them, asking for contact with the kids (she has allowed video contact, except with the one he assaulted who says he never wants to see him again). Promising it will never happen again etc.

She thinks he may become violent when he discovers she is not having him back. He is currently in sweetness and light mode.

… and yes, she has called women’s aid and other helplines every day but can’t get through

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But surely the police will attend because of the assault on a minor (presume her DS is under 18?)

OP she can contact Gingerbread, they have a helpline and can give info on contact arrangements.

Legal advice from Rights of Women or FLOWS

Non Mol/Occupation Order from NCDV

She can contact her local DV organisation for help and support. tell her to do a Google search: Domestic Abuse help Cheshire or wherever she lives. She can also look on her council website as the details will be there.

The police & Schools are required by law to notify Social services safeguarding incident involving a child reported to them. Based on what you've described I really surprised SS have not been in touch to do an assessment.