If the applicant is in immediate danger, an application can be made to the court on the same day without the respondent being there. This is known as a without notice application. The court will need to consider whether or not the applicant is at risk of significant harm, whether they will be prevented or deterred from applying if they have to wait or whether the respondent is avoiding being served with the papers.
If the court grants a without notice order, it will fix a date for a full hearing, as soon as just and convenient. The applicant will then have to arrange for the respondent to be personally served with the order and other papers, as above. Note that the without notice order will not take effect until the respondent has been served with it.
If there are other family proceedings already in progress (for example, for a residence or contact order for a child) the court may wish to hear the whole case together – but they can still grant a without notice order while the applicant is waiting for the full hearing.