An FMPO is a court order that can prevent a family member, partner, or any other individual from forcing someone into marriage, taking them abroad for that purpose, or continuing a marriage that has already been forced upon them. At Citywide Solicitors, based moments from Tooting Broadway station, our family law team has years of experience helping people across South West London obtain these orders quickly, discreetly, and with sensitivity to the cultural and family pressures involved.
Whether you live in Tooting, Tooting Bec, Balham, Furzedown, Mitcham, Colliers Wood, Earlsfield or elsewhere in Wandsworth and Merton, our solicitors are on hand to guide you through every step — from the first confidential phone call to representation at the Family Court.
Orders are tailored to the situation and may include:
Breaching an FMPO is a criminal offence, carrying a sentence of up to five years' imprisonment, which gives the order real protective force.
Applications can be made by:
Our Tooting-based solicitors regularly assist not just the individuals directly affected, but also concerned family members, school welfare officers, and community organisations across South London who are supporting someone at risk.
Most FMPO applications are made to the Family Court, and in genuinely urgent cases, an application can be made without notifying the other party — known as an "ex parte" or "without notice" application. This means protection can be put in place before the person at risk is even aware an application has been made, which is often essential for safety.
Local applications connected to the Tooting, Balham and wider Wandsworth area are typically heard at the Central Family Court or a designated family hearing centre serving South West London. Citywide Solicitors can prepare and file the necessary statements and evidence swiftly, and represent you at the hearing, whether in person or remotely.
Where there's a real risk someone may be taken abroad imminently or forced into marriage within days, our solicitors can prepare an emergency application, often obtaining a hearing the same or next day. If you're near Tooting Broadway, Tooting High Street, or the surrounding SW17 postcode, our office is easily reachable by tube, bus, or on foot for an urgent in-person meeting.
Worried about yourself or someone you love?
Call us now — all conversations are handled discreetly and without judgment
Call Citywide Solicitors TootingObtaining an FMPO is often just one part of a wider plan. Our team can also advise on:
We work closely with support services across Wandsworth, Merton and Lambeth to make sure clients from Tooting, Balham, Colliers Wood, Earlsfield, Streatham and Mitcham have access to a full network of protection, not just a single legal order.
It functions similarly to an injunction, restricting someone's actions, but is a specific order created under the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007.
The court can take steps to protect your identity and safety throughout proceedings, including restricting who sees certain documents.
Legal Aid is often available for forced marriage cases regardless of income. Our solicitors will assess your eligibility at your first consultation, free of charge.
We regularly act for clients across Tooting, Tooting Bec, Balham, Furzedown, Colliers Wood, Earlsfield, Streatham, Mitcham, Wandsworth Town and the wider SW17, SW16, SW19 and SW12 postcodes.
Take the first step toward safety today
Confidential appointments available in person at Tooting Broadway or by phone/video
Contact Our Family Law Team