Civil Proceedings & Orders
There are various orders the magistrates’ court can make against you, even if you are not accused of a criminal offence. They usually prohibit a person from doing specified activities, for example, going to a particular place, contacting a particular person, etc. These are usually civil proceedings and relate to behaviour that is often, but not always, considered criminal. In addition, breach of a number of the orders is a criminal offence which may carry a custodial sentence.
Having such an order made against you can, therefore, have significant consequences to your day-to-day life and, if you are found guilty of breaching the order, may even lead to you going to prison. Many people do not realise that they can be legally represented for these sorts of applications and in some cases even qualify for legal aid. Do not make this mistake. Contact us for advice and representation.
How We Can Help You
Expert Knowledge of Civil Proceedings
Civil proceedings are different to criminal proceedings in two key aspects:
- The rules of evidence
- The standard of proof
These differences mean that the threshold to persuade a court to make an order is lower in civil proceedings than in criminal. In other words, it is easier for an applicant to convince the court to make an order against you. You will be in a much stronger position to defend an application for a civil order if you have Hill Twine Solicitors & Barristers in your corner, fighting your fight.
Benefit from Our Experience
Our vast magistrates’ court experience includes dealing with the following types of matters:
- Closure Orders
- Anti-Social Behaviour Injunctions (ASBIs)
- Criminal Behaviour Orders
- Sexual Harm Prevention Orders
- Sexual Risk Orders
- Violent Offender Orders
- Domestic Violence Protections Orders
- Taxi Licence Appeals (appealing against a local authority refusal to grant or a decision to revoke a taxi or hackney carriage licence, including appeals against decisions of Bournemouth Borough Council, Poole Borough Council, and Dorset County Council)
- Reduction of Driving Disqualification (an application to have your licence returned before the end of the disqualification period following a driving disqualification)
Funding
Legal Aid
Criminal Legal Aid can be used for certain civil order applications, even though you are not facing prosecution for an offence. If you qualify for legal aid you will not have to pay for legal representation. Only certain firms can represent for free under a Representation Order and we are proud to say that we are one of them. If you are facing court proceedings for a civil order contact us now for further information. The earlier in the proceedings you secure legal aid, the better. We will advise you on your eligibility for legal aid and will make an application for a Representation Order on your behalf.
Private Funding
If you do not qualify for legal aid we can represent you on a private paying basis. We offer competitive fixed fee packages for all court proceedings for civil applications. Contact us to discuss your options and we can provide you with a quotation.
If you have any questions or need advice