Shona’s contribution highlights the abuse tactics used by perpetrators in family law proceedings and examines how the family courts are navigating cases involving domestic abuse. The article will consider new legislation (Domestic Abuse Act 2021) together with recent case law and the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s July 2023 report; ‘The Family Court and domestic abuse: achieving cultural change’ which includes a number of recommendations. It also briefly includes the government’s response (November 2023) to the Commissioner’s report and in turn, the Commissioner’s updated view in light of this. Shona concludes with some final thoughts, mainly that urgent reform is desperately overdue.

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