After you get protective orders — the survivor's next steps

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-28

The order is a tool, not the end

A non-molestation or occupation order is a powerful legal shield — but staying safe is a plan, not a single paper. This guide (survivor-first) walks you through what to do next.

1. Keep it enforced

Carry a copy / save it on your phone — and give one to your family, employer, children's school, and (where the order permits) your DA service
Breach? An order with a power of arrest means call 999 immediately — the police arrest on the spot. Don't "hope it stops"; enforcement is what makes it real
Log every breach (date, time, what happened) for the return hearing and/or criminal case
If there's no power of arrest, contact 101 and report; then the order's breach is still contempt you can pursue

2. Safety planning

Review your safe device — an abuser who sees you researching can escalate; use a device they can't access and clear history
Change passwords/PINs; alert your bank; lock down social media location-sharing
Refuge 0808 2000 247 and your local DA service can co-build a safety plan (see our DA pages)
Consider a panic alarm, door changes, school/nursery notice about who may collect

3. Housing

If you need to move or secure the home, use the homelessness duty (the council must take abuse into account), a DLUHC/OCC rights route, or (if the order excludes him) the possession/occupation framework. See our housing and occupation-order guides
Keep the order in your housing application — it boosts priority

4. Legal aid follow-through

Your FL401 order is gold-standard evidence for the legal aid gateway (see our gateway guide) — it unlocks funded representation for children proceedings
Ask your provider to convert it into a legal-aid certificate for a child arrangements case if you need one

5. Children arrangements

A protective order vulnerability is a heavy factor in any contact decision — the court applies PD12J (see our PD12J guide)
You can apply for child arrangements orders with your protective order in the bundle
Cafcass and the court take both orders seriously — tell them about both

6. The wider support net

Refuge 0808 2000 247 (24/7) · Women's Aid directory · local IDVA
Galop / Men's Advice Line depending on who you are (see our DA pages)
Emotional support: DA charities, counselling — you've survived something enormous; support is part of the safety plan

Official links

Refuge: https://refuge.org.uk
gov.uk domestic abuse: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-violence-and-abuse
Injunctions: https://www.gov.uk/injunction-domestic-violence

This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with these charities or gov.uk.

Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.