Domestic Violence Solicitors in Bridgend and Rhondda Cynon Taff

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If you are in an abusive relationship, whether that be physically, mentally, or financially, please contact us today so that we can begin the process of helping you rebuild your life.

We understand at Devonalds that the key skill to have when dealing with domestic violence cases is trust. You can trust us to provide a confidential service from start to finish, you can trust us to deal with your case in a compassionate manner, and you can trust us to be as open as possible about the whole process, including any fees that are due.

Why Choose Devonalds Family Law Services?

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In 2016, we saw the rise of domestic violence reporting to the Police for men in abusive relationships. It is important to understand that you are not alone. Whether you are male or female, contact us today, where you can receive the help and guidance that you need at this difficult time.

Speak to our sensitive domestic violence solicitors today

Our specialist domestic abuse solicitors in South Wales are ready to advise and support you with complete confidence.

We have offices across Rhondda Cynon Taff in Bridgend, Caerphilly, Church Village, Pontypridd, Talbot Green, Tonypandy, Treorchy and Tylorstown. We can also advise you by phone, email, or video conferencing for your convenience.

No matter how difficult your situation is, help is available. Please get in touch to find out more.

How our domestic abuse solicitors can help you

Injunctions

Our domestic abuse solicitors in Bridgend and Rhondda Cynon Taff can assist with all types of injunctions, including:

Non-molestation orders

These orders are there to protect you and any children from threatening, intimidating and/or harassing actions.

Non-molestation orders can also prevent your partner from coming into contact with you.  This could be by distance, through social media, telephone, etc. whether directly and/or through third parties.

Where a non-molestation order is breached, your partner could be arrested.

Occupation orders

An occupation order was created for the protection of individuals and/or children living in a property with an abusive perpetrator. An occupation order’s main purpose is to prevent an abusive person from having certain rights to the family home, but it can also enforce many other things, such as:

• Prevention from accessing the family home
• Prevention from accessing certain areas of the family home
• Require permission to access the family home
• Prevention from having close proximity to the family home
• Removing the abuse from the family home

Our solicitors have considerable experience helping victims and their loved ones to seek protection from their abuser. We will take the time to listen and understand your situation, provide support and guidance on the available options available as well as apply for court orders on your behalf.

Divorce advice for victims of domestic abuse

At Devonalds, we understand that divorce generally can be a challenging matter, but where your circumstances behind the divorce are in concern to domestic violence, we acknowledge this can be extremely stressful and difficult for you to pursue, particularly where you believe they might try to contest the divorce.

With the right legal support, this can be avoided. We have helped many domestic divorce victims escape their abusers, and where it is necessary, we will represent you in court proceedings and tirelessly fight your corner.

Our domestic violence solicitors in Bridgend and Rhondda Cynon Taff have specialist skills in:

• Initiating divorce proceedings
• Applying to family court for financial orders
• Applying to family court for child arrangements orders

Our domestic abuse legal advice fees

We always aim to be completely fair and transparent with our fees from the outset. The type of fees we offer for our domestic violence services will depend on certain factors involving your case, such as the level of expertise required and the type of service that is needed. For cases that we would consider to be more straightforward, such as applying for a court order, we tend to offer fixed fees, which provide certainty over the expected costs.

It is our belief that no matter what anyone’s circumstances are, everyone should have access to legal support. That’s why for specific situations, we are able to offer legal aid. See our Legal Aid page for more information and to learn if you are eligible.

Recognising domestic abuse

We recognise that it can be considerably difficult to acknowledge and come to terms with realising that you are suffering from domestic violence. That’s why we think it’s paramount to educate everyone on what domestic violence is and the different types of abuse victims, unfortunately, experience.

The current definition of domestic violence is “any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse [psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional] between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality”.

Many people presume that domestic violence can only be recognised as physically abusive actions, but in fact, there are many variations of domestic violence, for example: 

Physical abuse

Physical abuse is most usually what people refer to when they are discussing domestic violence. It is also an easier form of abuse to recognise as it usually leaves evidence, such as bruises and wounds. Physical abuse is used to assert power and control over the victim. Physical abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Pushing
• Kicking
• Punching
• Biting
• Strangling
• Using weapons to threaten
• Murder

Verbal abuse

Verbal abuse is often not immediately recognised as a type of domestic abuse, but it is. Unfortunately, many people are in verbally abusive relationships without knowing it. Verbal abuse often involves an interaction with the perpetrator where their words are causing emotional harm to the victim, often done to control, manipulate and assert power.  

• Constant yelling and shouting
• Verbal humiliation
• Being made fun of
• Insults
• Threats
• Mocking

Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse is where the abuser puts the victim down using actions in an attempt to control them. It can be incredibly difficult to recognise, usually done in a very subtle and manipulative way. That’s why it is essential to understand what emotional abuse is.

Examples of emotional abuse include:

• Criticising
• Embarrassing
• Shaming
• Blaming
• Manipulating

Psychological abuse

Psychological abuse is frequent verbal and non-physical actions that the perpetrator uses to harm the victim deliberately.

• Accusations
• Frequent arguing
• Gaslighting
• Name-calling

Sexual abuse

We recognise that it can be hard to determine whether you are in a sexually abusive relationship. Abusers may use excuses for their actions, such as saying it isn’t abuse as they are the victim’s partner or guilt tripping the victim into sexual activity that they wouldn’t have otherwise done. Sexual abuse in a relationship can include:

• Being held down in sexual intercourse without consent
• Being pressured into sending sexual photos and/or videos
• Being given alcohol/drugs with the intent to lower your ability to refuse sexual actions

Coercive control

Coercive control involves frequent acts that are done to cause a victim harm, punishment, and fright. Examples of coercive control can include:

• Isolating you from friends and family
• Depriving you of basic needs
• Monitoring your movements, e.g. online communications
• Controlling your everyday life, for example, who you can see and where you can go
• Depriving you from accessing support services
• Frequently putting you down
• Humiliating you
• Taking control of your finances
• Threatening you
• Intimidating you

Financial abuse

Financial abuse can be considered as an aspect of coercive control, usually done by the perpetrator to control and threaten a victim.

• Borrowing money and not returning it
• Stealing money
• Tricking someone into bad investments
• Forcing someone to sell their assets without their consent
• Taking money in exchange for stuff

Domestic abuse of children

Children too can be victims of domestic abuse, suffering from the same abuse as listed above, but also being victims due to witnessing domestic abuse in the family home.

Children did not used to be recognised as victims of domestic abuse. However, the Domestic Abuse Bill passed through the House of Commons in March 2020, which now recognises children as victims of domestic violence.

Domestic abuse resources

Women’s Aid

Women’s Aid is a federation that helps women and children suffering from domestic abuse through means of information, services, and support lines.

See womensaid.org.uk for additional information.

Man Kind

Unfortunately, male victims of domestic abuse are often forgotten about. That’s why the Man Kind initiative was created to raise awareness and to support male victims through the means of information, support and their signposting service.

For further details regarding Man Kind and its services, see Mankind.org.uk.

National DA Helpline

The national DA helpline is there to support domestic abuse victims. They are a team of trained female advisors who listen to your situation and provide options tailored to your situation

See the nationaldahelpline.org.uk for further details on how they can help.

Speak to our sensitive domestic violence solicitors today

If you need advice or support to protect yourself or your loved ones from domestic abuse, our team are here to guide you. We will be happy to speak to you in complete confidence about what we can do to help.

We have offices across Rhondda Cynon Taff in Bridgend, Caerphilly, Church Village, Pontypridd, Talbot Green, Tonypandy, Treorchy and Tylorstown. We can also advise you by phone, email, or video conferencing for your convenience.

No matter how difficult your situation, help is available. Please get in touch to find out more.