You now have the right to ask the Judge in Family Court for the opportunity to have an IDVA sit with you to offer quiet guidance and emotional support. This is available for both financial proceedings and family Hearings. You can read more about this here: https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/family/practice_directions/practice-direction-27c-attendance-of-idvas-and-isvas Qualified as an IDVA since 2009, I have lots of experience supporting clients attending Civil and Criminal Court for emergency and planned Hearings.
Why is IDVA support important?
Whether it’s your first time in the court arena or whether you have been there lots of times, it can be nerve-wracking to say the least. IDVA’s are experts in supporting people experiencing domestic abuse/controlling relatonships.
Having your expert sit alongside you in the courtroom, completely focussed on your wellbeing throughout the day, can help ensure you give your best evidence, remain calm and do the best job you can in these very difficult circumstances.
Here’s how I can help:
- Preparation. We will run through everything you can do practically and emotionally to make sure you are as ready as you can be for your hearing
- Special measures – I will ensure screens are available for the courtroom and a separate waiting room etc, separate exits, are in place on the day
- Ensure you understand ‘legal speak’, offer quiet guidance and prompts to ensure you don’t miss anything
- Safety – I will make sure you are never alone
- Notekeeping – I will take comprehensive notes so you don’t have to and you can keep them afterwards
- Calming presence to give you the confidence you need on the day
- Guidance to help with wording of Child Arrangement Orders
- Debrief afterwards so you process the outcome and are clear on next steps
Other IDVA services
As an IDVA I am also well placed to advocate on your behalf in safeguarding meetings such as Section 7 interviews, Child Protection conferences and CAFCASS meetings.
If you need help to evidence coercive control and domestic abuse for Social Workers/CAFCASS and Family Court I can compile an in-depth report to demonstrate key risk indicators of abuse, help professionals understand the dynamics of abuse and impact. This report can help professionals with limited understanding of coercive control gain a better insight into potential risks of emotional/physical harm to you and your children when considering longer-term child arrangements.
Let me help you – together we can ensure that you do the absolute best job in court for your sake and that of your family.
IDVA Court Support Service
This service is available for court hearings in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Herts, Surrey, London. For courts outside of these locations, please contact me to discuss.
Service available for both clients instructing legal representation and Litigants In Person.