Part IV of the Family Law Act 1996

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This guidance is also available in pdf format.

This guidance tells you how the new Family Law Act can help you. It explains who can apply for an order, describes what you need to do and tells you what will happen once the court receives your application.

This guidance deals only with applications that are made at a county court.

How the Family Law Act help me?

This new Act, which became law in October 1997, protects victims of domestic violence with two different types of orders:

• A Non-Molestation Order - which prevents another person from harming you or a child.

• An Occupation Order - which will indicate who can live in the family home and can direct another person to leave the home.