You can apply for a forced marriage protection order if one of the following applies: you or someone else is being threatened with a forced marriage you’re in a forced marriage The order will be designed to protect you according to your individual circumstances, for example to stop someone taking you out of the UK. Call 999 if you’re in immediate danger. Get a forced marriage protection order You’ll need to: check if you can apply and get the forms attend a hearing It’s free. Read the guidance on getting a forced marriage protection order . Emergency orders You can get an emergency order (an ‘ex-parte’ or ‘without notice’ order) to protect you immediately without the person you’re making the order against being involved in getting the order. Download and fill in form FL401A . Write a witness statement. Include all of the following: what happened that you want the forced marriage protection order to be made why the court should deal with the application without notifying the person you’re making the order against Write the following words at the bottom of your witness statement - this is known as a statement of truth: “I believe that the facts stated in this witness statement are true.” Sign and date the statement of truth. Take your form and statement to a family court . Get a decision The court will consider your case, including any risk of significant harm if the order is not made immediately. You’ll get a decision about the order when you take your form and statement to the court. Get help You can get legal aid . You can contact the Forced Marriage Unit for help - even if you do not want to apply for an order. Forced Marriage Unit fmu@fcdo.gov.uk Telephone: 020 7008 0151 From overseas: +44 (0)20 7008 0151 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Out of hours: 020 7008 5000 Find out about call charges

You can apply for a forced marriage protection order yourself or if you’re one of the following: relative or friend voluntary worker or someone else official who’s been asked for help any other person with the permission of the court Anyone can apply for a court order - even if you’re a child under 18. Children do not have to have someone to help them if: the court agrees they have a legal representative Get the forms Download the forms: form FL401A if you’re applying for yourself form FL430 if you’re applying on behalf of someone else Include details of how you should be protected, for example to stop you from being taken abroad. Download and fill in form C8 to keep your contact details private. You can get help to fill in forms from the Citizens Advice Bureau . Deliver or send the documents to a family court . It’s free.

You’ll be sent a ‘notice of proceedings’. It’ll tell you the date of your hearing. You must arrange for the person named in the application (‘the respondent’) to be given (‘served’) a copy of your application and witness statement. You can: ask the court to serve the documents get someone else to serve the documents serve the documents yourself if this does not put you in danger You’ll also have to download and fill in a statement of service to say where and when you served the documents - send this to the court. Attend the hearing Your case will usually be heard in private with you, the judge and your legal advisers. You can get help and support at court . You can ask for other help including: separate entrances, exits and waiting areas so you do not have to be in the same place as the person you’re making the order against protection at court, for example screens around the witness box The court will provide an interpreter if you’ve asked for one. They can translate what happens during the hearing but they cannot represent you or give you legal advice. You might have to give evidence. You might be able to have a relative or friend with you in court. Get a decision The judge may decide: that more information is needed to make a temporary ‘interim’ order to make an order which will continue until it’s cancelled or changed by the court that the person you’ve applied for an injunction against must make an ‘undertaking’ (a promise) to do or not do something You’ll usually get a decision about the order at the hearing based on your individual circumstances, for example you’ll get an order that stops your family forcing you into a marriage. You’ll get a copy of the order and any other court documents necessary. After the hearing You can apply to change or extend (‘vary’) or end (‘discharge’) the order by filling in form FL403A . You must arrange to give (‘serve’) a copy of the forced marriage protection order (if you get one) and any other court documents on the respondents and any other person named in the order. You must also give the police both of the following: a copy of the order a statement saying you’ve given a copy of the order to the respondents and anyone else named in the order Take the order and statement to the police station nearest to your address unless you’re told otherwise. Appeal a decision You may be able to appeal against a decision if you think there’s been a serious mistake. You must get permission and you’ll usually have to pay a fee. Read the guidance about how to make an appeal . Make a complaint Use the complaints guidance if you’re not happy with the way you’ve been treated.

Apply for a forced marriage protection order

Overview

You can apply for a forced marriage protection order if one of the following applies:

you or someone else is being threatened with a forced marriage
you’re in a forced marriage

The order will be designed to protect you according to your individual circumstances, for example to stop someone taking you out of the UK.

Call 999 if you’re in immediate danger.

Get a forced marriage protection order

You’ll need to:

It’s free.

Read the guidance on getting a forced marriage protection order.

Emergency orders

You can get an emergency order (an ‘ex-parte’ or ‘without notice’ order) to protect you immediately without the person you’re making the order against being involved in getting the order.

Download and fill in form FL401A.

Write a witness statement. Include all of the following:

what happened
that you want the forced marriage protection order to be made
why the court should deal with the application without notifying the person you’re making the order against

Write the following words at the bottom of your witness statement - this is known as a statement of truth:

“I believe that the facts stated in this witness statement are true.”

Sign and date the statement of truth.

Take your form and statement to a family court.

Get a decision

The court will consider your case, including any risk of significant harm if the order is not made immediately.

You’ll get a decision about the order when you take your form and statement to the court.

Get help

You can get legal aid.

You can contact the Forced Marriage Unit for help - even if you do not want to apply for an order.

Forced Marriage Unit

fmu@fcdo.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 7008 0151
From overseas: +44 (0)20 7008 0151
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Out of hours: 020 7008 5000
Find out about call charges

View a printable version of the whole guide

Apply for a forced marriage protection order

Overview

Get a forced marriage protection order

Emergency orders

Get a decision

Get help

Forced Marriage Unit

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Apply for a forced marriage protection order

Overview

Get a forced marriage protection order

Emergency orders

Get a decision

Get help

Forced Marriage Unit

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