Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is any of the following acts a person commits against another person where there is a domestic relationship:
- wilful injury;
- wilful damage to the other person's property;
- intimidation or harassment of the other person;
- indecent behaviour to the other person without consent; or
- a threat to commit any of the above.
The domestic violence legislation applies to anyone in a domestic relationship which includes spouses, intimate personal, family or informal care relationships.
In situations of urgency, an urgent Temporary Protection Order can be made before the Application is served on the respondent (the person against who the Order is being made). The person who the order protects is called the aggrieved.
A Court may also include various other conditions in the domestic violence order, including prohibiting the respondent from:
- approaching a place where the aggrieved works or lives;
- remaining in a home where the aggrieved and respondent used to live together;
- approaching the aggrieved, their relatives or associates named in the Order, including stating a distance from which the respondent may not approach;
- going to a child's school or daycare centre.
If you are in a domestic relationship and are genuinely concerned about your safety or the safety of a relative or child a domestic violence order may be of assistance to you. You should contact the police in any case of emergency. We can help you with the preparation of your Application for a domestic violence order and attend with you at any Court Mention or Hearing.