Astor Legal

With stricter domestic violence laws being introduced, a common question being asked is whether financial abuse is a crime. While this has previously been seen in the context of family law proceedings, the introduction of coercive control as a criminal offence has expanded the consequences of financial abuse. This is because control of finances is specifically set out in legislation as a facet of coercive control. A further consequence of…

Victims of verbal abuse often wonder whether it is a crime and whether there is any recourse for them. This is particularly so when it occurs in the context of a domestic violence situation. Obtaining an apprehended violence order (AVO) is a possibility but only in circumstances where the conduct meets the requisite criteria. What is Verbal Abuse? Verbal Abuse is a form of emotional abuse where a person uses…

The question of how to beat a sexual assault charge is one that criminal defence lawyers field on a regular basis. In today’s climate, defending these allegations has become extremely difficult. This is due to a range of factors such as the onset of the ‘metoo’ movement, changing attitudes to accusations and the introduction of numerous pieces of legislation designed to improve conviction rates for sexual assault offences. It is…