If there is a court case about your children, you will almost certainly speak to Cafcass. Here is who they are, what they do at each stage, and what changes if your case is in a Child Focused Court area.

You may worry the court will only care whether he is “a good dad”. In England and Wales, the rules say what he did to you matters, and the law treats children who see or hear abuse as victims in their own right.

“He’s abusive to me, but I don’t think he’d hurt the kids.” It can feel like the fair thing to say, but it can be quoted back to you. Here’s how to tell the whole truth on your Cafcass call, and how to prepare for it.