Understand your legal options

You don’t have to manage Family Violence Orders and other legal issues on your own.

You can get free advice from a legal service experienced in domestic and family violence .

Family Violence Orders

A Family Violence Order (FVO) is an order made by the Court to stop someone from being violent towards family members or partners.

Before you apply

Applying for an FVO can increase the risk of violence or abuse.

Before you apply, think about talking to the Domestic Violence Crisis Service.

Applying for an FVO

You apply for an FVO through the ACT Magistrates Court.

You have to:

1. Fill in an application form and other forms. You can get these in person at the ACT Magistrates Court or download them from their website.
2. Take the forms to the ACT Magistrates Court in person. They will tell you what happens next.

There are staff from Domestic Violence Crisis Service and Legal Aid ACT at the Magistrates Court to help you apply.

Read more about how to apply for Family Violence Orders.

Family violence orders from another state or territory

Domestic or family violence orders from other states or territories made from 25 November 2017 apply in the ACT.

Orders have different names in different states and territories:

• Australian Capital Territory: Family Violence Orders (FVO)
• New South Wales: Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVO)
• Northern Territory: Domestic Violence Orders (DVO)
• Queensland: Domestic Violence Orders (DVO)
• South Australia: Intervention Orders (formerly Restraining Orders)
• Tasmania: Family Violence Orders (FVO)
• Victoria: Family Violence Intervention Orders (FVIO)
• Western Australia: Family Violence Restraining Orders (FVRO)

If you have a family violence order in another state or territory and you want to know how it applies in the ACT, contact Domestic Violence Crisis Service or ACT Policing.

Victim support

Victims of crime in the ACT can contact Victim Support ACT. Depending on your circumstances and needs, the Victim Support team may be able to:

• connect you with services that can support your physical and mental health
• advocate to criminal justice agencies on your behalf, if you feel they are not responding properly to your rights as a victim
• connect you with volunteers who are trained to support and guide you through court processes
• help you prepare a Victim Impact Statement to communicate to the judge or magistrate how the crime has affected you and your loved ones.

Victim Support ACT has free and confidential services.

Charter of Rights for Victims of Crime

The Charter of Rights for Victims of Crime makes it clear how you can expect to be treated by the different agencies that make up the criminal justice system in the ACT.

This includes:

• respecting and protecting your safety and privacy
• providing you with access to support services, such as the Domestic Violence Crisis Service
• providing you with access to other support, such as an interpreter
• ensuring you know how the justice system works and what you need to do to take part
• ensuring that you can participate safely.

Agencies that must follow the charter include::

• ACT Policing
• Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
• ACT Corrective Services
• ACT Courts and Tribunals
• Sentence Administration Board
• Restorative Justice Unit
• Victim Support ACT.

You can read more about your rights and how the ACT criminal justice system works in Your Rights as a Victim.

Mandatory reporting of child abuse or neglect

Some agencies and their workers must report to Child and Youth Protection Services if they are worried about the safety or wellbeing of a child or young person they meet through their work.

If you are concerned about this and want to know more, it is best to talk to the service you’re dealing.

Find out more about mandatory reporting in the ACT.