Apply for a forced marriage protection order

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1. Overview

You can apply for a forced marriage protection order if one of the following applies:

  • you or someone else is being threatened with a forced marriage
  • you바카라 사이트檙e in a forced marriage

The order will be designed to protect you according to your individual circumstances, for example to stop someone taking you out of the UK.

Call 999 if you바카라 사이트檙e in immediate danger.

Get a forced marriage protection order

You바카라 사이트檒l need to:

It바카라 사이트檚 free.

Read the guidance on getting a forced marriage protection order.

Emergency orders

You can get an emergency order (an 바카라 사이트榚x-parte바카라 사이트� or 바카라 사이트榳ithout notice바카라 사이트� order) to protect you immediately without the person you바카라 사이트檙e making the order against being involved in getting the order.

Download and fill in form FL401A.

Write a witness statement. Include all of the following:

  • what happened
  • that you want the forced marriage protection order to be made
  • why the court should deal with the application without notifying the person you바카라 사이트檙e making the order against

Write the following words at the bottom of your witness statement - this is known as a statement of truth:

바카라 사이트淚 believe that the facts stated in this witness statement are true.바카라 사이트�

Sign and date the statement of truth.

Take your form and statement to a family court.

Get a decision

The court will consider your case, including any risk of significant harm if the order is not made immediately.

You바카라 사이트檒l get a decision about the order when you take your form and statement to the court.

Get help

You can get legal aid.

You can contact the Forced Marriage Unit for help - even if you do not want to apply for an order.

Forced Marriage Unit

fmu@fcdo.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 7008 0151
From overseas: +44 (0)20 7008 0151
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Out of hours: 020 7008 5000
Find out about call charges

2. How to apply

You can apply for a forced marriage protection order yourself or if you바카라 사이트檙e one of the following:

  • relative or friend
  • voluntary worker or someone else official who바카라 사이트檚 been asked for help
  • any other person with the permission of the court

Anyone can apply for a court order - even if you바카라 사이트檙e a child under 18.

Children do not have to have someone to help them if:

  • the court agrees
  • they have a legal representative

Get the forms

Download the forms:

  • form FL401A if you바카라 사이트檙e applying for yourself
  • form FL430 if you바카라 사이트檙e applying on behalf of someone else

Include details of how you should be protected, for example to stop you from being taken abroad.

Download and fill in form C8 to keep your contact details private.

You can get help to fill in forms from the .

Deliver or send the documents to a family court.

It바카라 사이트檚 free.

3. After you apply

You바카라 사이트檒l be sent a 바카라 사이트榥otice of proceedings바카라 사이트�. It바카라 사이트檒l tell you the date of your hearing.

You must arrange for the person named in the application (바카라 사이트榯he respondent바카라 사이트�) to be given (바카라 사이트榮erved바카라 사이트�) a copy of your application and witness statement. You can:

  • ask the court to serve the documents
  • get someone else to serve the documents
  • serve the documents yourself if this does not put you in danger

You바카라 사이트檒l also have to download and fill in a statement of service to say where and when you served the documents - send this to the court.

Attend the hearing

Your case will usually be heard in private with you, the judge and your legal advisers.

You can get help and support at court.

You can ask for other help including:

  • separate entrances, exits and waiting areas so you do not have to be in the same place as the person you바카라 사이트檙e making the order against
  • protection at court, for example screens around the witness box

The court will provide an interpreter if you바카라 사이트檝e asked for one. They can translate what happens during the hearing but they cannot represent you or give you legal advice.

You might have to give evidence.

You might be able to have a relative or friend with you in court.

Get a decision

The judge may decide:

  • that more information is needed
  • to make a temporary 바카라 사이트榠nterim바카라 사이트� order
  • to make an order which will continue until it바카라 사이트檚 cancelled or changed by the court
  • that the person you바카라 사이트檝e applied for an injunction against must make an 바카라 사이트榰ndertaking바카라 사이트� (a promise) to do or not do something

You바카라 사이트檒l usually get a decision about the order at the hearing based on your individual circumstances, for example you바카라 사이트檒l get an order that stops your family forcing you into a marriage.

You바카라 사이트檒l get a copy of the order and any other court documents necessary.

After the hearing

You can apply to change or extend (바카라 사이트榲ary바카라 사이트�) or end (바카라 사이트榙ischarge바카라 사이트�) the order by filling in form FL403A.

You must arrange to give (바카라 사이트榮erve바카라 사이트�) a copy of the forced marriage protection order (if you get one) and any other court documents on the respondents and any other person named in the order.

You must also give the police both of the following:

  • a copy of the order
  • a statement saying you바카라 사이트檝e given a copy of the order to the respondents and anyone else named in the order

Take the order and statement to the police station nearest to your address unless you바카라 사이트檙e told otherwise.

Appeal a decision

You may be able to appeal against a decision if you think there바카라 사이트檚 been a serious mistake. You must get permission and you바카라 사이트檒l usually have to pay a fee. Read the guidance about how to make an appeal.

Make a complaint

Use the complaints guidance if you바카라 사이트檙e not happy with the way you바카라 사이트檝e been treated.