Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Non-molestation order definition

What does Non-molestation order mean? A non‑molestation order is a protective family law injunction that stops a person from harassing, threatening, intimidating or using violence against a partner, former partner or child. In England and Wales it is granted under Part IV of the Family Law Act 1996 and prohibits a respondent from molesting an “associated person” (as defined in the Act) or a relevant child. “Molestation” is not exhaustively defined in statute; case law interprets it broadly to include violence, harassment, pestering, coercive control and unwanted contact (including online). Orders typically include no‑contact provisions and bans on attending a home, workplace...

Non-molestation orders under FLA 1996 Part IV: associated persons, criteria, definition of molestation, exclusion zones, Domestic Abuse Act 2021 interaction, and PARV orders (England and Wales)

Published by a LexisNexis Family expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note

This Practice Note sets out the factors the court must take into account when considering an application for a non-molestation order under Part IV of the Family Law Act 1996 (FLA 1996). It outlines who may seek a non-molestation order and identifies who qualifies as associated persons for the purposes of FLA 1996, Pt IV. It also addresses what is meant by molestation

Under the Family Law Act 1996 (FLA 1996), a non-molestation order is an injunction restraining a person (the respondent) from molesting another individual who is associated with the respondent, or a relevant child

The court may make a non-molestation order:

where an application has been brought (either within other family proceedings or without any other family proceedings being issued) by a person associated with the respondent; or
in any family proceedings to which the respondent is a party, if the court considers the order ought to be made for the benefit of any other party to the proceedings or any relevant child, even if no application has been made

When the court is considering whether to make an occupation order, it must also consider, of its own motion, whether a non-molestation order should be made...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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