Case Study: When Family Violence Happens Between Siblings
Sibling family violence isn’t something people talk about often, but as a lawyer working in the family violence space, I see it more than you might think, especially later in life when pressure, responsibility, and emotion collide.
Sarah’s story
Sarah* came to me as one of two adult children caring for very elderly parents. She was carrying most of that responsibility and held power of attorney for both financial and medical decisions.
Her sister, Emma*, had always been in and out of their parents’ lives, and there had been tension for years, often centred on the cost of care and what that might mean in the long term.
When one of their parents received a terminal diagnosis, everything escalated.
After learning she hadn’t been appointed as power of attorney, Emma became physically and verbally aggressive. Sarah was assaulted and began receiving ongoing threats, which quickly started impacting not just her, but her husband and children too.
And it didn’t stop there.
That behaviour began affecting her parents’ care. Palliative care workers no longer felt safe attending the home, and the family was suddenly facing the possibility of moving their unwell parent into care much earlier than they had wanted.
It was an incredibly distressing situation for everyone involved.
Police stepped in and issued a Family Violence Safety Notice, bringing the matter before the Court.
At the first hearing, I secured a full no-contact order to protect Sarah and her family. The police also started investigating the assault allegations.
Sarah was very clear about the legal outcome she wanted.
She needed to feel safe. Her husband and children needed to feel safe. She knew her relationship with Emma was over, but she also didn’t want that familial breakdown to cause more distress for her parents in their final months.
Sarah wanted a way forward that protected her family while still allowing her parents to see both of their children safely and on their terms.
At the second hearing, we were able to resolve the matter with a final 12-month no-contact order, with carefully structured exceptions in place.
Those exceptions allowed for limited contact in end-of-life circumstances, under strict conditions. Clear boundaries were set around behaviour, timing, and how visits would take place, with their parents’ care needs always coming first.
Sarah and her family are now safe, and her parents retain the opportunity to see both children as they wish, allowing Sarah to continue her role as a loving daughter without fear or regret.
Need legal support?
These kinds of situations, while not uncommon, are rarely simple. Still, there are legal options that can create structure, safety, and a bit of steadiness in the middle of it all.
If you’re dealing with something that feels complicated or overwhelming, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. Book a free consultation with me today so we can talk through your options and find the right way forward.
*Names have been changed.