You do not have to live in fear. We help you secure DVOs and Ouster Orders quickly, so you and your children can sleep soundly again.
Domestic violence is rarely just one incident. It is a pattern of behaviour designed to control you. The law recognises that abuse takes many forms:
Isolating you from friends and family, monitoring your phone, or making you feel guilty for leaving the house.
Controlling your access to money, questioning every cent you spend, or forbidding you from working.
Constant criticism, gaslighting, or threats to harm themselves if you leave.
You don’t have to wait for physical violence. We can apply for a Domestic Violence Order (DVO) that places strict legal boundaries on the perpetrator.
You don’t have to wait for a physical incident to get legal protection. If you feel unsafe or controlled, the law is on your side, and so are we.
Don’t let a lack of cash trap you in an abusive situation. With JustFund, we can secure your legal funding now and settle the bill only after your property settlement is finalised.
A clear, structured process designed to bring you peace of mind. We transform complexity into clarity, one step at a time.
We listen to your story, understand your goals, and provide honest advice about your options. No judgment, no pressure, just clarity on the best path forward.
We design a personalised legal roadmap to protect your assets, your children, and your future. Every strategy is tailored to your unique situation.
We stand for you in the courtroom so you don’t have to speak to the perpetrator
We work to resolve matters efficiently through mediation, collaboration, or court representation. We fight for outcomes that protect what matters most to you.
You achieve closure and certainty. With agreements formalised and orders finalised, you can confidently close this chapter and embrace your new beginning.
Book your consultation today and discover how the right legal partner can make all the difference.
Clear answers to the questions we hear most often. If you don’t see your question here, we’re happy to answer it during your consultation.
In QLD, domestic violence is recognised as one person using violent or abusive behaviour to control another person in a relationship. This can include:
Yes, domestic violence does include verbal abuse. Examples of verbal abuse include humiliation, insults, threats and demands.
Under Queensland law, domestic violence is recognised in different types of relationships, including spousal, intimate-personal, family and informal care relationships.
The “Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 (Qld)” is the law that prevents domestic violence in Queensland. The Act has three main objectives:
The law says that victims of domestic violence need to be protected. It also says that offenders need to face consequences. The Qld Domestic Violence Act 2012 achieves this by:
You can report domestic violence at any time whilst or after it occurs. There is no time limit to reporting domestic violence in Qld. However, it is better to report domestic violence as soon as possible, for your own safety and wellbeing.
In Queensland, domestic violence applications are made to the Magistrates Court. Child protection proceedings can also be heard in the Children’s Court if it is believed a child needs protection from domestic violence.
However, the Family Court can make a family violence order. This is like a protection order, but it allows parties to come in contact for reasons like family counselling or delivering/collecting children.
A domestic violence protection order is an order made by a Queensland court. It restricts the behaviour of the person who is being violent. The domestic violence order stipulates that the person must be well behaved towards you or your children. It can also prevent that person from approaching, contacting or locating you. In Queensland, it is a criminal offence for someone to breach a protection order.
Domestic violence orders are often referred to by different names. Many of these names mean the same thing, however. In Queensland, the official term is “protection order”, but it might also be referred to as:
In Queensland, you can make an application for a domestic violence order yourself. Or you can ask the police to apply for you.
It is best to get legal advice before filing an order of protection. A lawyer can help you to understand the process and consequences of making an application for a domestic violence order in Qld.
To apply for a domestic violence restraining order, you can:
Alternatively, you can get a police officer, lawyer or trusted person to apply for you.
It is best to get legal advice before filing for a domestic violence restraining order.
Once you have applied for a personal protection order, you will receive your first court date. You must attend this court date. On the day, you can either represent yourself or hire a lawyer to represent you. Alternatively, if the police apply for a restraining order for you, the police prosecutor will make the application in court.
The first court appearance you make will be for a ‘mention’. The magistrate might ask both parties some questions about the application. If both parties agree (or if the respondent doesn’t appear), the court may make a domestic violence protection order then.
If both parties don’t agree, the court may set a date for a ‘hearing’. At the hearing, the court will ask you or your representative to provide any evidence you might have. Then it decides whether to make a domestic violence order.
Normally, domestic violence protection orders last for five years. However, this is up to the court. The court can make the restraining order shorter or longer depending on what is appropriate.
If you are at risk of immediate harm, you should call the police. You can get an emergency protective order by speaking to a police officer or court registry staff.
Once you have made an application for an emergency protection order, you will go to the courtroom shortly after, before the respondent is informed.
The police can also issue a police protection notice, which protects you straight away until the matter is heard in court.
If you need a protective order urgently (such as in an emergency), a temporary protection order is made. It is shorter than a court order. The temporary protection order lasts up until the date that a magistrate decides the application for a full-protection order
The National Domestic Violence Order (DVO) Scheme was finalised on 25 November 2017. All personal protection orders made in Australia, after this date, are automatically recognised and enforced in every State.
If someone has made an application against you, you might think about contesting the protection order. It is important to follow the conditions of any temporary orders and speak to a lawyer if you wish to contest. During the ‘mention’ date, tell the magistrate that you do not agree with the order and a ‘hearing’ date will be set. On the ‘hearing’ date, you must give evidence as to why a domestic violence order should not be made.
Either the aggrieved or the respondent can apply to vary a domestic violence protection order’s:
If you make an application to vary a domestic violence order, the magistrate will only make changes if they are satisfied that the aggrieved will not be negatively affected.
A domestic violence restraining order can be dropped, if the magistrate is satisfied that the aggrieved will not be adversely affected in any way.
During an application for a restraining order, a hearing date might be set. If the magistrate is satisfied that there is no evidence or reason for making a domestic violence order, the application might be dismissed.
If the court makes a domestic violence order against you, the conditions of that order might require you to attend court-ordered counselling. Court-ordered counselling is intended to minimise your likelihood of re-committing domestic violence.
It is best to at least speak to a lawyer who specialises in domestic violence applications, before seeking a personal protection order. They can help you to file the application and appear on your behalf in court to address the magistrate. The lawyer can also help you to change the order of protection if you wish to in the future.
If someone has made an application for a protection order against you, and you do not agree with the application, it is best to hire a domestic violence defence lawyer. A defence lawyer can help you prove to the magistrate that the evidence and circumstances do not warrant a domestic violence order.
If you have a matter before the Family Court, your divorce lawyer or family law attorney might be able to seek a domestic violence order as part of your ongoing proceedings.
At VM Family Law, we are highly experienced and primarily focused on domestic violence and family violence matters. Please feel free to contact us at any time for a welcome chat about your concerns.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, it is important to remember that you are not alone. There are many friends, family, community members and organizations that want to support you in overcoming domestic violence. In an emergency, you should call the police.
At VM Family Law, we specialise in domestic violence and family violence matters around the Brisbane area. We’re here to help support you in overcoming domestic violence and relationship breakdowns.
Choosing the lawyer that is right for you can be difficult in the midst of domestic violence. At VM Family Law, we try to take a casual but highly experienced approach towards your domestic violence matter. We want you to feel comfortable but reassured that your legal interests are being handled with the utmost professionalism.
If you are in the Brisbane area and interested in chatting with lawyers who primarily focus on domestic violence, please reach out.
Every day you wait is another day living in fear. Take the first step toward safety and peace of mind.
