What is a non-molestation order?

Reviewed 19 October 2026 · Information for England and Wales

In short: it is an order from the Family Court telling a named person to stop abusing you. It can forbid violence or threats, harassment, intimidation, pestering and contact. The power to make it comes from section 42 of the Family Law Act 1996, and if the person disobeys it they commit a criminal offence.

You may hear it called a "non-mol" or an NMO. It is one kind of injunction. Applying is free – there is no court fee – and many people apply without a solicitor.

What the order can say

Each order is tailored to your situation. Typical clauses say the other person must not:

• use or threaten violence towards you or your children
• harass, intimidate or pester you
• phone, text, email, write to or message you on social media
• get in touch through friends or relatives, or ask anyone else to do any of the above
• post about you on the internet
• damage things that belong to you
• come within a stated distance of your home, workplace or your children's school

The law does not define "molestation". Judges have made clear that it goes well beyond violence and includes serious harassment and pestering. Controlling behaviour, a flood of messages, threats, showing up uninvited and abuse online can all qualify. Physical violence is not a requirement.

Can I apply? The "associated person" test

The person must be "associated" with you. That covers anyone who:

• is your husband, wife or civil partner, now or in the past
• is or was your fiancé(e), or agreed to form a civil partnership with you
• lives with you as a partner, or used to
• has had an intimate relationship with you lasting a significant time, even if you never lived together
• is a relative – parents, children, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and step-family
• shares or shared your household, other than as a lodger, tenant, boarder or employee
• is the other parent of your child, or shares parental responsibility for a child with you
• is on the other side of a family court case with you

None of these fit – a neighbour, a stranger or a very brief date, for example? Then another route, such as a harassment injunction, is likely to be needed. Our guide to applying against a relative or housemate explains more.

Anyone under 16 needs the court's permission before applying. An order can also protect "relevant children", such as children who live with you or with the other person.

How the judge decides

The court looks at everything, with particular focus on the health, safety and well-being of you and any children. Essentially the judge asks whether the court needs to step in to protect you. Your signed statement counts as evidence. Police reports and photographs help but are not essential – see the evidence you need.

Applying, in six steps

1. Fill in form FL401, the application used for both non-molestation and occupation orders. Our FL401 walkthrough explains each section.
2. Write your witness statement – your account in your own words, ending with a signed statement of truth. See our witness statement example.
3. Protect your address if necessary using form C8, so the other person never sees it.
4. Get the papers to the Family Court by email, post or in person. Find the court near you.
5. Go to the hearing – for urgent cases this can be the same day or within a few days; otherwise both of you are invited.
6. Have the order served. It only bites once the other person has been told about it. How service works.

We take care of steps 1 to 3 for you, free of charge, and explain the rest.

Telling the other person – or not

Many orders are first granted without notice: the judge decides before the other person is aware of the application. This happens when there is a risk of significant harm, when the person might stop you from going ahead, or when waiting would leave you exposed. A short "return hearing" is then held so they can respond. Read more about emergency orders and the return hearing.

How long does it last?

As long as the judge decides – most often 6 or 12 months, occasionally longer or "until further order". You can ask to extend it before it runs out. See how long the order lasts.

When the order is ignored

Breaching a non-molestation order is a crime carrying up to five years in prison. Ring 999 in an emergency, or 101 to report a breach that has already happened. Our guide covers what to do if the order is broken.