Forced Marriage Solicitors

In a forced marriage a person is coerced into marrying someone against their will and under duress. They may be physically threatened or emotionally blackmailed to do so. It is an abuse of human rights and is unlawful.

It is important to distinguish between an arranged marriage, which is not unlawful, and a forced marriage. An arranged marriage is where you have a choice as to whether to accept the arrangement or not. The tradition of arranged marriages has operated within many communities and countries for a long time and continues to do so.

Goodman Ray has a team of experts who are experienced in representing and protecting clients who are either threatened with forced marriage, who have been forced into a marriage or stranded abroad as a result of a forced marriage. Our team have undertaken specialist training in this complex area and are experienced in the necessary court procedures. We provide training on forced marriages and honour based violence to local agencies such as Hackney social services, the NIA project, IMECE (a Turkish women’s organisation) and domestic violence training to advocates