My friend is in a refuge with her toddler. She is from overseas and the child is a British citizen. She left her job in the home country to come to UK and married the man (UK citizen but also citizen of MidEast country) He has worked abroad in Europe and had pretty much been absent for much of the child's life but when he was here financially and emotionally abused her and once, physically. It has been logged with the police, along with a couple of other incidents over the past year.
She has had no contact with him apart from a solicitor's letter demanding joint (well, actually 4 days out of the week) custody of the child. The court date is set for next month.
She has received permission to remain in the UK and has just received benefits (though not much, most goes on the refuge payments) and the meagre funds she has will run out.
He refuses to divorce her or pay maintenance. How will this work? What shall she do? How on earth would she be able to afford to travel to town to deliver the child to him on the pittance she has.
She is understandably upset, her main wish is to go back to her home country but obviously she is trapped here.
Any advice welcome. Thanks