IVO Lawyers Melbourne
It is important to know that the law gives you and your family legal protection if you have been victims of domestic violence.
Protecting You and Your Family with Immediate Legal Support
If you or your family have experienced domestic violence, threats, harassment or intimidation, the law provides protection.
At Melbourne Family Lawyers, our experienced IVO Lawyers in Melbourne act quickly to help you secure the protection you need.
Our IVO Lawyers Melbourne Services
Expert Legal Advice
We explain the legal process clearly and advise you on the most appropriate type of intervention order for your situation.
Urgent Protection
We act quickly to help you obtain an Interim Intervention Order where immediate protection is required.
Court Representation
Our experienced intervention order lawyers represent you in the Magistrates’ Court and advocate strongly on your behalf.
Strategic Case Preparation
We help you prepare supporting evidence, draft your application properly, and anticipate responses from the other party.
Peace of Mind
During a stressful and emotional time, we provide steady, practical guidance so you do not face the process alone.
Protect Yourself with an Intervention Order
An Intervention Order (IVO) is a court order designed to protect you from someone who is causing harm, threatening harm, stalking, or harassing you.
An IVO can prohibit a person from:
Contacting you
Approaching your home or workplace
Attending your children’s school
Publishing or sharing information about you
Engaging in threatening or abusive behaviour
Early legal advice is critical. The way your application is prepared can significantly impact the outcome.
Meet Some Of Our Family Lawyers
Hayder Shkara
Director and Practice Manager
Silvio Auditore
Solicitor
Alison Loach
Senior Associate
Giuseppe Rubino
Senior Associate
How to Apply for an Intervention Order in Melbourne
Applying for an Intervention Order generally involves:
Preparing Your Evidence
Gather supporting material such as: Text messages, emails or letters, Photographs, Medical reports, Witness statements
Filing an Application
You can apply at your local Magistrates’ Court of Victoria or online through official channels.
Attending Court
A Magistrate will consider your evidence and may grant: An Interim Intervention Order (urgent temporary protection), or A Final Intervention Order after a contested hearing.
We guide you through each stage to ensure your application is properly prepared and professionally presented.
What Is an Intervention Order?
An intervention order (sometimes called a restraining order) is a court order that protects a person from family violence, harassment, stalking, or threatening behaviour.
It is not limited to domestic relationships. Intervention orders may apply to:
Former partners
Family members
Housemates
Neighbours
Acquaintances
If you are in immediate danger, contact the police. In urgent situations, police can apply for an Interim Intervention Order on your behalf to provide immediate protection.
Get in Touch Today
If you need protection or urgent advice, do not delay.
Our experienced IVO Lawyers Melbourne are ready to assist you.
Phone: +61 3 9670 9677
Email: [email protected]
Move forward with clarity and confidence.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between AVO and IVO?
AVO is specific to New South Wales, while IVO is specific to Victoria. Both aim to protect individuals from violence but are governed by different state laws.
If the IVO is made only in Victoria, does it only apply in Victoria?
No, an IVO can be registered in other Australian states and territories, making it enforceable nationwide.
What are the types of intervention orders?
Family Violence Intervention Orders
These are for family members and protect against various forms of domestic abuse, including physical violence and emotional harassment.
Personal Safety Intervention Orders
These are for non-family members like neighbours or acquaintances, aiming to prevent stalking, harassment, and other non-domestic threats.
What happens at an intervention order hearing?
A magistrate reviews the case, may issue an interim order, and sets a date for a final hearing where both parties can present evidence.
What are the examples of family violence?
Even if certain actions do not comprise a criminal offence, they may still constitute family violence. Family violence may include the following types of conduct toward a family member:
- Physical abuse, including assault (including thrusting, hitting, punching, slapping, and kicking) and inflicting bodily harm;
- Sexual assault, including sexual coercion, rape, and sexual degradation;
- Verbal abuse (including violent threats, defamation, manipulation, gaslighting, and accusations);
- Willful destruction of their property, including jointly owned property;
- The unauthorised restriction of a family member’s liberty or threats to do so;
- Causing an animal’s death or injury (regardless of whether the animal pertains to a family member);
- Attempts to cause physical harm or assault;
Threats to cause sexual abuse or assault; - Threats to cause property damage;
- It can include a family member threatening to kill or harm a pet, whether the animal is yours or belongs to the other person.
It can also include seeing violence happen between family members, or being close enough to hear threats being made.
Being there in the aftermath, trying to comfort a loved one after they’ve been assaulted, can still be deeply distressing and relevant.
What to do if you have been served with an FVIO?
If you’ve been served with a Family Violence Intervention Order (FVIO), take a breath and take it seriously. Even if you disagree with it, the order starts applying straight away. An FVIO is a court order meant to protect someone from family violence. It can set strict rules, like no contact, no going near certain places, and no turning up at someone’s home or work.
Start with the basics.
Read the order properly. Not just the first page. Look at the conditions and the exact addresses and exclusions. A lot of people get into trouble because they assume they understand it, and they do not.
Do not test the boundaries.
If it says no contact, that means no calls, no texts, no DMs, no “just checking in”, and no passing messages through a friend or family member. Also be careful with shared spaces. If the order lists places you must avoid, stay away, even if you think you have a good reason.
Get advice early, not later.
Speak with an intervention order lawyer as soon as you can. They can explain what the conditions mean in real life, what you should and should not do before court, and how to respond if there are parts of the order that are confusing or unrealistic.
If police give you directions, follow them.
Some orders require you to hand in weapons or firearms. If that applies to you, do it immediately. If police need to check compliance, cooperate and keep it calm. Arguing on the spot usually makes things worse.
Keep a copy on you.
Save it on your phone and keep a printed copy if possible. If you’re questioned, you’ll want to be able to show what the order actually says.
Show up to court.
If there’s a hearing date, attend. This is your chance to put your side forward properly. Your lawyer can help you prepare what to say, what evidence matters, and what outcome you should ask for.
And finally, be honest with yourself about how you’re coping. Being served with an FVIO can hit hard, even if you feel blindsided. Lean on someone you trust, and if you’re struggling, reach out to a support service or counsellor. Staying level-headed helps you avoid mistakes while this is still live.
What is an IVO?
An Intervention Order (IVO) is a court order designed to protect you or your children from someone who’s harming you, threatening you, or repeatedly harassing you. It’s there to put clear legal limits in place so you’re not left trying to manage the situation on your own.
Depending on the circumstances, an IVO can stop the other person from contacting you, require them to keep their distance from your home, work, or school, and restrict behaviours that are intimidating, abusive, or controlling.
If you’re not sure whether an IVO fits your situation, an IVO lawyer in Melbourne can talk it through with you, explain your options, and help you understand what protection might actually look like in your day-to-day life.
How do I apply for an IVO?
You can apply for an IVO at your local Magistrates’ Court. If you’re in immediate danger, the police can also apply for you. On paper, that sounds straightforward, but in real life, it can feel heavy. You might be trying to stay calm, keep the kids settled, and get through work, and then you’re expected to put everything into words and explain it to strangers.
Having an IVO lawyer in Melbourne can take a lot of that pressure off. They can help you work out what to include, organise any supporting information, and guide you on what the court process usually looks like. If you need to attend court, they can also speak on your behalf and make sure your situation is put forward clearly. That way, you’re not trying to hold it all together while also figuring out the legal side at the same time.
What if someone applies for an IVO against me?
If an IVO has been made against you, it’s important to take it seriously — even if you feel it’s unfair or based on misunderstandings.
Ignoring an IVO or breaching its terms can lead to criminal charges.
You have the right to respond to the order, and that’s where having experienced IVO lawyers Melbourne on your side can make a real difference.
They can help you challenge the order, negotiate its terms, or prepare for a court hearing.
Whether you want to contest the allegations or simply resolve the matter with minimal conflict, your lawyer will guide you through each step.
How long does an IVO last?
An IVO doesn’t always look the same. Sometimes it’s put in place quickly, before the court has had a chance to hear everything. That’s called an interim order. It’s usually there to give short-term protection and keep things steady until the matter comes back before a Magistrate.
After that, the court decides what happens next. A final IVO can run for a set period, or it can stay in place longer if there are real concerns about safety. It all depends on what’s been happening and whether the risk is likely to continue.
If the order feels too restrictive, or your situation has changed, you’re not stuck with it forever. An IVO lawyer in Melbourne can help you apply to change the conditions or have the order removed. And if you’re worried the protection won’t last long enough, your lawyer can also help you put forward the right information to ask for the order to continue.
Will an IVO affect my family law case?
An IVO doesn’t just stay in its own lane. If there are children involved, it can flow into parenting arrangements as well. Courts are always careful where kids are concerned, and their safety comes first every time.
Once an IVO is in place, the way you deal with the other parent may need to change. That can mean no direct contact, limited communication, or contact only through set channels. In some situations, it can also affect time with the children, at least until things are looked at more closely by the court.
Because intervention orders and parenting matters overlap, it’s important to get advice from someone who understands both. An IVO lawyer in Melbourne can help you make sense of how the order fits into your parenting situation and help you move forward without breaching any existing court orders.