Family violence intervention orders in Victoria
Family violence intervention orders explained for Victoria, including safety, court process, conditions and family law interaction.
Read article →Intervention Orders
We assist applicants and respondents with conditions, evidence, court preparation and the family law overlap. If there is an interim order or upcoming court date, call our office and tell us the date, court and current conditions.
- Issued by
Magistrates' Court
- Conditions
Take effect immediately
- Often affects
Parenting & housing
- Breach
Can be criminal
What an intervention order means.
A Family Violence Intervention Order is a court order that can impose conditions on a person to protect another person from family violence. Conditions may restrict contact, attendance, communication or behaviour.
Intervention order matters can move quickly. They may also affect parenting arrangements, communication about children, living arrangements and related family law proceedings.
Applicants may need urgent support, evidence preparation and advice about appropriate conditions. Respondents may need advice about allegations, options for resolution, consequences of breach and the effect of conditions.
Conditions have immediate consequences.
Before agreeing to or contesting an intervention order, understand how the proposed conditions may affect parenting arrangements, communication, housing, work and future family law proceedings.
Our approach
Intervention orders have immediate consequences.
Advice helps people understand options and prepare properly before decisions are made at court - not afterwards.
Applicant & respondent advice.
We assist people seeking protection and people responding to applications - at different points across the day.
Family law overlap.
We consider the effect on parenting and separation issues - conditions affect changeovers, communication and time.
Practical conditions advice.
We explain exactly how proposed conditions may affect daily life, housing and work.
Evidence-focused approach.
We help organise the material needed to support your position at the next court date.
How it works
The Intervention Order process.
The process depends on urgency, risk, evidence, whether children are involved, whether allegations are disputed and whether the matter can resolve by agreement.
01
Identify urgency & safety
Clarify immediate concerns, court date, current orders and risk issues.
02
Review the application
Consider the application, proposed conditions and available evidence.
03
Advise on options
Explain negotiation, consent without admissions, undertakings or contesting the matter.
04
Prepare for court
Prepare documents, instructions and evidence where required.
05
Address related family law issues
Consider how the order affects parenting, communication, property access or future proceedings.
Frequently asked questions
Advice from our family law team.
What is a Family Violence Intervention Order?
It is a court order designed to protect a person, their children and property from family violence through enforceable conditions.
What does consent without admissions mean?
It may allow a respondent to agree to an order without admitting the allegations. Advice is important before choosing this path.
Can an intervention order affect parenting?
Yes. Conditions can affect communication, changeovers and time arrangements. Parenting and intervention order advice should be coordinated.
What if I need to collect belongings?
The order conditions must be checked carefully. Police assistance or agreed arrangements may be required.
What happens if conditions are breached?
An intervention order is a civil order, but breaching conditions can become a criminal matter.
What should I bring to court?
Bring the application, current order, messages, photographs, reports, timelines, parenting orders and any evidence relevant to the conditions sought.
Will an intervention order be considered in family law parenting proceedings?
Yes. When deciding parenting arrangements, the family law courts must generally consider any history of family violence and any family violence order that applies or has applied to the child or a member of the child's family.
Can protection also be sought through the family law courts?
The family law courts can grant injunctions for the personal protection of a party or a child under federal family law. In practice, a state intervention order is generally the quicker option and may be more readily enforced by police, so advice on the appropriate pathway is important.
Related articles
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Plain-English guidance selected for this service area.
How to apply for an urgent family violence intervention order
A family violence intervention order is a court order to protect a person. Learn how you can apply for an urgent family violence intervention order.
Read article →Family violence intervention orders in Victoria
Family violence intervention orders explained for Victoria, including safety, court process, conditions and family law interaction.
Read article →Our Offices
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