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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鈥檙e 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.

Get a forced marriage protection order

You鈥檒l need to:

• check if you can apply and get the forms
• attend a hearing

It鈥檚 free.

Read the guidance on getting a forced marriage protection order.

Emergency orders

You can get an emergency order (an 鈥榚x-parte鈥� or 鈥榳ithout notice鈥� order) to protect you immediately without the person you鈥檙e 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鈥檙e making the order against

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

鈥淚 believe that the facts stated in this witness statement are true.鈥�

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鈥檒l 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

You can apply for a forced marriage protection order yourself or if you鈥檙e one of the following:

• relative or friend
• voluntary worker or someone else official who鈥檚 been asked for help
• any other person with the permission of the court

Anyone can apply for a court order - even if you鈥檙e 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鈥檙e applying for yourself
• form FL430 if you鈥檙e 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 .

Deliver or send the documents to a family court.

It鈥檚 free.

You鈥檒l be sent a 鈥榥otice of proceedings鈥�. It鈥檒l tell you the date of your hearing.

You must arrange for the person named in the application (鈥榯he respondent鈥�) to be given (鈥榮erved鈥�) 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鈥檒l 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鈥檙e making the order against
• protection at court, for example screens around the witness box

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 鈥榠nterim鈥� order
• to make an order which will continue until it鈥檚 cancelled or changed by the court
• that the person you鈥檝e applied for an injunction against must make an 鈥榰ndertaking鈥� (a promise) to do or not do something

You鈥檒l usually get a decision about the order at the hearing based on your individual circumstances, for example you鈥檒l get an order that stops your family forcing you into a marriage.

You鈥檒l get a copy of the order and any other court documents necessary.

After the hearing

You can apply to change or extend (鈥榲ary鈥�) or end (鈥榙ischarge鈥�) the order by filling in form FL403A.

You must arrange to give (鈥榮erve鈥�) 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鈥檝e 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鈥檙e told otherwise.

Appeal a decision

You may be able to appeal against a decision if you think there鈥檚 been a serious mistake. You must get permission and you鈥檒l usually have to pay a fee. Read the guidance about how to make an appeal.

Make a complaint

Use the complaints guidance if you鈥檙e not happy with the way you鈥檝e been treated.