Advice on leaving....

[takingalongwalk]

Name changed for obvious reasons.
I am hoping I can get some advice from the brave souls on here who have already done what I think I have to do.
My husband is emotionally abusive, I am increasingly afraid of him, and feel this is also impacting on DD (age 2). I am pretty certain I need to leave, which will involve packing and leaving pretty quickly one day while he's at work.
I have no money, but am well qualified and confident I'll find work in the long run, short term is a concern though. My husband is from abroad, he is very possessive with DD and I will have to fight tooth and nail to keep her, and think there is a risk he will try to kidnap her.
I basically am hoping that someone can outline the steps I will need to take. This might help me to see at as a process I can move through.
So far I know I need to leave, taking essentials, paperwork etc, and go somewhere. I have had an offer to stay with a friend, who my husband knows, and think this might be better so that he will be able to know where DD is so might panic less. But would I be safer going somewhere anonymous? A refuge??
I need to get temporary custody...how? And then apply for permanent custody, am I likely get get it? Would ideally like DD to have regular contact with father (apart from the possessiveness he is good with her and they are close, this is the part I find heartbreaking), but need safeguards in place due to danger of kidnapping.
Money???????? Am I entitled to legal aid, presume I will need a solicitor? Am I likely to get housed by the council until I get on my feet?
Any answers would be greatly appreciated, and also anything else I have not thought of.
Thankfully, I have no emotional attachment to my husband, the emotional danger is it breaks my heart to spilt him and DD up, but just don't feel I have a choice anymore.
Thanks for reading.

Sorry will have to be brief

1. contact women's aid and look at their website for safety planning to remove yourself
2. A refuge will ensure that you are linked to help focussed on people with this sort of problem (no money, no home, no support, legal probs etc.) and would give you people to get to know and DD to socialise. BUT they can be difficut to get into.
3. Legal aid: you will only qualify if you have documented domestic abuse (eg GP, police, a and E attendance) with physical evidence. YES we have returned to the dark ages and EA doesn;t qualify 4)Temporary orders for residence (not custody in the UK) and other legal advice from a local Family law specialist. Women's aid will recommend someone who works with Domestic abuse cases. The first 30 minutes would be free (you can see more than one solicitor before you make up your mind who to employ) If there is a house they may defer payment until the divorce settlement.
4. If abduction is a possibility then alert the UK border agency and passport office so he can;t get another passport for her by claiming one is lost. However you need legal advice to keep her in the country.
5. safe access for DD and her father can be arranged by the lawyer in a contact centre.
6. the counsel will probably house you eventually, you will also be eligible for benefits including child tax credits, income support and child benefit. As you are probably already in receipt of CB I suggest you get a BASIC BANK ACCOUNT (look at money saving expert for their tips for an online account, easy to manage if you don;t know where you will be and have paperwork sent to your friend rather than your house) and transfer CB into it immediately (unless you already have a separate account, in which case use that).

Beware: the time before leaving is always the most dangerous as the abuser feels his control is slipping.

Don;t underestimate the emotional impact once you leave...there will be grief even though you feel emotionally distant now.

Remember inprivate browsing and delete history.

PS good luck.

A few steps to a new free life.

Fool, thanks soooo much.

When you call the passport office ask to be put through to the Caveat team.

Best of luck