What is a occupation order? An occupation order is a civil family court order within the English and Welsh family court system that orders one parent to be removed from a family home, normally on a short to medium term basis.

Normally a family law solicitor will guide a separating mother to apply for a non-molestation order at the same time to justify the applications of the basis that they allege harm is being experienced whilst the parents live together in the family home but are starting the process of living apart

Occupation orders can be applied for in family courts in England and wales. Occupation orders are commonly applied for by mothers who are seeking to remove a father from a family home to gain a advantage in situations where tensions are high and discussing separation or divorce finances are difficult. Graham Fletcher McKenzie Friend has been through this process personally and know how challenging it can be to navigate.  It is less common for a father to make an occupation order application but it sometimes happens

Graham Fletcher McKenzie Friend has over ten years experience helping litigant in person parents navigate non-molestation orders, ancillary relief and child arrangement order family court proceedings without using a family lawyer and 150+ 5 star reviews from Mother and Father clients

Occupation order applications often are made in combination with non-molestation orders applications. Occupation orders have criteria to be met and many courts may consider it draconian to exclude one of the joint owners of a property from their home (though it can happen). Family courts frequently receive occupation order applications after a mother has visited a family lawyer for advice. As legal aid can be granted after a solicitor has identified a mother as a victim of domestic abuse 

Graham Fletcher McKenzie Friend has personal experience of how it feels to have to leave your home to attend a court hearing with the possibility you may be ordered from your family home you worked hard to provide for your family. Thankfully Graham was successful in getting the occupation order application of his now ex-wife dismissed and this eventually led to a fair, consensual agreement to sell their family home

Graham Fletcher McKenzie Friend is very experienced in helping parents contest occupation order applications and has observed a wide range of different scenarios unfold in family courts in England and Welsh family court proceedings

Typically Graham helps fathers who are faced with occupation order applications and want a professional alternative to paying high solicitor fees 

Graham has first hand experience of presenting his own case as a litigant in person and coaching other parents to do the same. This means you present your own case to a judge,rather than paying a solicitor to speak for you

This is one aspect worth noting in what distinguishes Graham Fletcher McKenzie Friends service from those of the majority of lawyers or McKenzie Friends. Graham Fletcher has successful lived experience of achieving an occupation order being dismissed and to remain in is family home and therefore he is not trying to work through any unresolved issues in other people's court proceedings. This means Graham can be impartial, child focussed and ask awkward questions if needed

In Graham's work as a professional Mckenzie friend he is always solution focused in the family court advice he offers, looking for opportunities to reduce conflict and resolve the divorce finance disputes that occupation orders seek to create a unfair advantage in

Graham Fletcher McKenzie Friend provides an alternative service to that of a family law solicitor in how he works. Many of the litigants in person he has helped over the years feel lawyers seek to amplify and extend conflict. As a professional McKenzie Friend Graham helps parents work towards a future where they can co-parent together, something which he has achieved personally

Graham Fletcher McKenzie Friend can support you to respond to a occupation order application and help you with paperwork and to negotiate with solicitors outside court at in-person occupation order hearings at the following family courts in England and Wales:

within 1hr drive of Bristol

 Bristol -  Bath  - Weston supermare -  Newport

Gloucester  -  Swindon  - Cardiff  - Blackwood 

over 1 hr drive 

Taunton - Worcester  - Hereford  - Salisbury 

over 1 1/2 hour drive

Swansea  - Oxford  - Reading -Basingstoke