Protection From Domestic Abuse and Harassment in Scotland
As relationships break down, it is not unusual for problematic behaviour to take place. At Kee Solicitors, our team has helped countless clients secure legal protection from a wide variety of unacceptable behaviours.
- Specialists in Scottish family law and divorce
- Fixed-fee consultations from £250+VAT
- Book a consultation today and take the first step towards your future
Legal protection can address immediate safety, the family home, children and the practical steps needed to leave.
Domestic abuse can be physical, sexual, psychological, emotional or financial. It can include threats, stalking, monitoring, isolation and coercive control. You do not need to wait for physical violence before asking what protection is available.
We provide confidential family law advice on urgent civil remedies and the wider consequences of separation. If you or a child is in immediate danger, call 999. A solicitor’s application does not replace emergency police protection.
A team with extensive experience across the full range of family law.
Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh, with telephone and video appointments available throughout Scotland.
Focused advice from a family solicitor, followed by a written assessment and a tailored fee estimate.
A dedicated family law team handling everything from straightforward separation to complex financial and child law disputes.
What Protection Services Do We Offer?
At Kee Solicitors, we provide urgent, specialist support for those experiencing domestic abuse or requiring legal protection. Our team understands the sensitivity of these situations and works quickly and discreetly to help keep you and your family safe.
Interdicts, non-harassment orders, exclusion orders and powers of arrest.
An interdict can prohibit specified abusive or threatening conduct, attendance at particular places or unwanted contact. In domestic abuse cases, the court may attach a power of arrest where the statutory requirements are met. Breach of a qualifying domestic abuse interdict with a power of arrest can itself be a criminal offence.
A non-harassment order addresses a course of harassment and carries criminal consequences if breached. An exclusion order can suspend a partner’s right to occupy the family home where the legal test is met and protection from injurious conduct is required. The available remedy depends on the relationship, occupancy position, behaviour and evidence.
Urgent interim orders can sometimes be sought without waiting for the other party to be heard first. We prepare the factual statement, messages, police references, medical or witness evidence and any child-related information needed to support the application. The court decides whether and when an order is granted.
We can also advise on separation, divorce, child residence and contact, financial control and safe communication arrangements so that the protective order forms part of a wider plan.
Our Dedicated Team of Family Law Experts
Sensitive advice, careful safety planning and decisive court action where needed.
We will ask how it is safe to contact you and whether correspondence, voicemail or post could increase risk. We explain what an order can achieve, what happens after service and what to do if it is breached.
Where criminal conduct is alleged, Police Scotland and the prosecution authorities deal with investigation and charges. Our role is to secure appropriate civil family law protection and advise on the connected family issues.
Where urgent action may be required, contact us as soon as possible. Our one-hour fixed-fee initial consultation costs £250 + VAT and includes focused advice, a written assessment of your position and a tailored estimate for any further work.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Domestic Abuse and Legal Protection in Scotland
Common questions about protective orders and domestic abuse law in Scotland.
How quickly can an interdict be obtained?
An urgent interim application can sometimes be presented very quickly, including on the day instructions and evidence are available. Court availability and the legal test determine timing and outcome, so same-day protection cannot be guaranteed.
What is a non-harassment order?
It is a civil order prohibiting harassment. A private applicant generally needs to establish a course of conduct, usually involving at least two incidents. Breach is a criminal offence.
What happens if a protective order is breached?
Contact Police Scotland immediately where there is danger or a criminal breach. The legal consequence depends on the order: breach of a non-harassment order and certain domestic abuse interdicts is criminal, while other interdict breaches may be dealt with as contempt.
Can I apply for an exclusion order?
Possibly, if the relationship and occupancy requirements are met and exclusion is necessary for protection from conduct harmful to physical or mental health. We assess whether an exclusion order, interdict or both are appropriate.
What is a power of arrest?
It is an additional protection the court can attach to a qualifying interdict against abuse. It gives police statutory arrest powers in defined circumstances; it is not attached to every type of protective order.
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