Criminal family law
Certain family situations spill over into the criminal sphere: one parent no longer represents the child in dealings with the other, or maintenance is no longer being paid. The criminal response, which is sometimes essential, must be coordinated with any ongoing or forthcoming civil proceedings. This coordination is key to an effective defence, and it requires a detailed understanding of both areas of law.
Questions clients ask
What should I do if the other parent is no longer paying child maintenance? Should I file a complaint, and if so, when? What should I do if the other parent refuses, without reason, to hand over the child?
What this area covers
The firm handles offences occurring within a family context, closely linked to related civil proceedings:
- family abandonment (failure to pay maintenance);
- failure to present a child in court;
- child abduction.
The initiation of criminal proceedings is never a neutral matter in a family context. The firm provides early advice on the advisability of taking such action, its timing, and how it relates to civil proceedings (whether ongoing or forthcoming). Where it is necessary to lodge a complaint or bring a civil claim, the firm initiates the proceedings and supports the client right through to the hearing.