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Family Law Act intervention orders
Our highly-trained family lawyers are experienced in all intervention order matters, including those involving family violence.
Specialist family law firm
We have 40+ years of experience dealing with family law matters.
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Get the help, guidance, and legal support you need to move forward.
Commendable service
We’re ranked in the top five family law firms in Melbourne.
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We will clearly outline expectations and a quote for legal fees following your initial consultation.
Understanding the Family Law Intervention Act Victoria
An intervention order is issued by the Magistrates' Court to safeguard the wellbeing of a person who fears for their own safety or the safety of their children. The main purpose of an intervention order is to prevent behaviours such as violence, harassment, stalking, property damage, or threats that may cause harm to the person seeking protection.
Your personal safety is our priority. If you or your children have been victims of any of the above, we can provide legal advice, emotional support, and representation to keep you protected and safe from harm.
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Seek protection with a family violence intervention order
Intervention orders are designed to protect you and your family from harm or threats of harm. There are different orders for different situations, which is why it’s important to obtain legal advice so you can select the option that will give you the best protection. Here are a few ways we can help.
Family violence intervention orders
A family violence order (also known as a domestic violence order) helps protect individuals from forms of abusive behaviour that occur within family relationships by setting conditions to safeguard those involved.
Child protection orders
A child protection order is a legal measure designed to protect children who are deemed to be at risk of significant harm, abuse, or neglect.
Contested hearing
If a family violence order has been wrongly brought against you, we can provide advice and representation to defend the application or to come to a mediated resolution.
Make an enquiry
Get started by discussing your circumstances with a family law expert.
When to seek legal advice from a lawyer
If you, your children, or family members have experienced family violence, a qualified family lawyer can provide advice and representation to help you move forward. Under the Family Violence Protection Act 2008, ‘family violence’ covers behaviour such as:
- Threats
- Physical and sexual abuse
- Psychological abuse
- Economic abuse
- Damage to property or threats to damage property
- Harm to pets
- Behaviour that is coercive or controlling, and that puts a family member in fear for their own or another’s safety and wellbeing
Benefits of engaging a family violence lawyer
Speaking to a family lawyer who specialises in family violence orders gives you an opportunity to discuss your situation in a safe and confidential environment so you can plan your next steps.
- Gain clarity on your situation and determine the best pathway forward
- Appoint a lawyer to lodge a family violence order or equivalent and represent you at Family Court if necessary
- Be advised of the implications of family violence in relation to broader family law matters
- Receive legal advice tailored to your circumstances
- Gain a clear understanding of the family law proceedings
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Client testimonials
Hear from our satisfied clients across Victoria.
"I highly recommend Carew Counsel Solicitors for anyone seeking a dedicated and knowledgeable solicitor for family law matters. Madison Ogilvie excelled in her communication, ensuring I was kept informed every step of the way. Although it got stressful, Madison's professionalism was top-notch."
"In what was a difficult time to go through, I'm thankful that I had the team at Carew in my corner. I received sound advice all the way through the process and felt proud of the dignified way that my case was being responded to. I would certainly recommend Madison and the team at Carew for their professionalism, experience, integrity and dedicated service."
"10 Stars! Very happy & relieved that I chose Alex Carew & Carew Counsel for a family member in an extremely concerning & complicated Family Court/child protection matter. Highly professional, ethical, respectful, knowledeable, hard working, strategic, collaborative, communicative, caring, compassionate & child & family welfare focused. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping us protect our little child."
"I would like to thank and acknowledge all the team at Carew Counsel Solicitors for representing me in my recent financial settlement matter. I highly recommend that you engage Carew Counsel Solicitors to represent you in your family law matter."
Why choose Carew Counsel
Client-oriented
Our goal is to help you achieve the outcome you desire in the most cost-effective way possible.
Family law specialists
Our legal team has extensive family law experience and are familiar with the court’s decisions.
Tailored advice
We give you honest, upfront, and detailed legal advice that is based around your best interests.
No legal jargon
We’ll help you understand the family law proceedings so that you can make informed decisions.
Meet the team specialising in family violence intervention orders
FAQs
Browse our frequently asked questions about intervention orders.
The Magistrates’ Court of Victoria has the power to make intervention orders, which may include conditions prohibiting the perpetrator of the family violence (known as the respondent) from:
- Attending where you live, work or go to school
- Contacting you or the children
- Having a third party contact you or the children
It can also revoke the respondent’s firearms licences, require the respondent to undergo counselling, and so on.
An Intervention Violence Order (IVO) is the common terminology used in Victoria and covers a range of behaviours, including physical violence, threats, stalking, intimidation, and property damage. Either the victim or the police can apply for an IVO to address violence and harassment. An Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) has the same purpose as an IVO but is classified differently depending on the state.
The length of a final IVO or family violence order is determined by the Family Court based on the evidence provided. It can be time-specific, such as 6 months or five years, or indefinite unless legally removed.
Breaching an IVO is a criminal offence in Victoria, as it undermines the safety and wellbeing of the protected person. If someone violates the conditions of the order, they can be fined a significant amount or even imprisoned.
Contesting an IVO in Victoria involves going through a legal process to challenge the order.
The first step is to consult with a family lawyer experienced in intervention orders. They can provide guidance on the specific circumstances of your case and help you understand your options.
Next, determine the grounds on which you are contesting the order, such as challenging the evidence presented, disputing the need for the order, or proposing alternative conditions.
Gather evidence that supports your case, such as witness statements, documentation, or any other relevant information that can help demonstrate why the intervention order should not be granted or should be modified.
Attend all court hearings related to the intervention order. In some cases, the court may encourage mediation between the parties to reach an agreement.
If an agreement cannot be reached, the court may conduct a contested hearing where both parties present their evidence and arguments.
At Carew Counsel, we have extensive intervention order experience and can help you contest an order that you believe has been wrongly brought against you. Make an enquiry to get started.
A family violence order can either be temporary (interim order) or time-specific (final order). Interim orders are issued by the court before a final hearing can take place, offering protection until a final decision is made regarding a longer-term order. The court will issue a final order after a contested hearing where evidence is presented. This longer-term order will have specific conditions to ensure the safety of the protected person.