Urgent help
If you are in danger, this comes first
Nothing on this page matters more than your safety. None of these services will ask you to prove anything before they help you.
- In an emergency, call 999. If you cannot speak, dial 999, listen to the operator, and press 55 when prompted. That is the silent solution, and it tells the police you need help without you having to say a word
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge, free and open 24 hours: 0808 2000 247
- Men’s Advice Line, for men experiencing abuse: 0808 801 0327
- Galop, for LGBT+ people experiencing abuse: 0800 999 5428
There is no court fee to apply for a non-molestation or occupation order, and legal aid for a solicitor is still available to victims of domestic abuse who are financially eligible.
The short answer
If you are in immediate danger, call 999. If you cannot speak, dial 999, listen to the operator, then press 55 when prompted. That is the silent solution, and it tells the police you need help without you saying a word. The helplines below are free, and none of them will ask you to prove anything before they help you.
Domestic abuse
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge. Free, 24 hours: 0808 2000 247
- Men’s Advice Line, for men experiencing abuse: 0808 801 0327
- Galop, for LGBT+ people experiencing abuse: 0800 999 5428
- Rape Crisis England and Wales, free, 24 hours: 0808 500 2222
- Karma Nirvana, for honour-based abuse and forced marriage: 0800 5999 247
Abuse is not only physical. Coercive control, emotional abuse and economic abuse are all abuse, and all of them count for legal aid.
If you are worried about a child
- NSPCC helpline, for adults worried about a child: 0808 800 5000
- Childline, for children and young people, free and confidential: 0800 1111
- If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
- Your local authority children’s services can be contacted directly, and you do not have to give your name.
If you are struggling to cope
- Samaritans, free, 24 hours, every day: 116 123
- Shout, free 24-hour text support: text SHOUT to 85258
- Your GP, or NHS 111.
Separation is one of the hardest things people go through, and the legal process is not designed around how it feels. If you are not coping, that is worth dealing with before the paperwork.
What this means for legal aid
Two things are worth knowing, and neither costs you anything to act on.
There is no court fee to apply for a non-molestation order or an occupation order. Protection does not cost money at the court counter.
Legal aid for a solicitor is still available to victims of domestic abuse who are financially eligible. Where there is immediate risk, funding can be granted urgently and the finances checked afterwards. The evidence accepted is far broader than most people expect and there is no time limit on it.
Evidence of domestic abuse, and what counts. How to find a solicitor who can act.
The figures
Family court fees in England and Wales
| Application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Apply for a divorce, dissolution or nullity | £628 |
| Financial order by consent, including a clean break | £62 |
| Contested financial order, the Form A application | £321 |
| Child arrangements, the C100 | £270 |
| General application within proceedings, D11 or C2 | £195 |
| Non-molestation or occupation order, the FL401 | No fee |
| Domestic Abuse Protection Order applied for by a victim | No fee |
There is no court fee to apply for a non-molestation or occupation order. Protection from abuse does not cost money at the court counter. You may pay for legal help to prepare it, and that is what legal aid can cover.
Help with Fees is separate from legal aid and can reduce or remove a court fee. Many people who do not qualify for legal aid do qualify for Help with Fees.
In force from 13 July 2026. Sources: the Ministry of Justice announcement and the fees order, SI 2026/642. Free applications: GOV.UK, injunctions: protection from domestic abuse. Checked 5 August 2026.
Covering your tracks
If you are worried about someone seeing what you have looked at, most browsers have a private or incognito window, and you can clear your history afterwards. On a shared device, be aware that clearing everything can itself be noticed.
The Refuge website has detailed guidance on staying safe online, written by people who understand the risk better than we do.