Paterson Finch Legal advises people on both sides of intervention order matters: those who have been served with a family violence safety notice or an intervention order, and those who need protection and are thinking of applying. We act in Family Violence Intervention Orders (FVIOs) and Personal Safety Intervention Orders (PSIOs). These matters are stressful and often arrive at an already difficult time, so we start by explaining where you stand and what your options are.

An intervention order can have serious and lasting effects. Depending on its conditions, it can limit where you go, who you can contact (including family members and children), whether you can stay in your home and, in some cases, your work. These matters usually arise from a relationship breakdown, a family conflict or a period of crisis, and they call for sound knowledge of how the courts handle them and sensitivity to what the people involved are going through. If you have been served, the hearing date is on your papers, and a breach of an order can lead to criminal charges, so it is worth getting advice before your first hearing.

Areas we cover

• Family Violence Intervention Orders (FVIOs)

• Personal Safety Intervention Orders (PSIOs)

• Family Violence Safety Notices and Interim Orders

• First Mentions, Directions Hearings and Contested Hearings

• Contesting an application for an intervention order

• Negotiating the conditions of an order, agreeing to an order without admissions, or seeking its withdrawal

• Undertakings

• Applying to vary or revoke an existing order

• Advising applicants seeking protection and protected persons named in police applications

• Breaches of intervention orders and related criminal charges (for example assault, threats or stalking)

How we work

Every intervention order matter involves people and families as well as legal questions. Whether you are seeking protection or have been served with an order, we start by listening to your situation and reviewing your documents. We then explain your options in plain language, including what each would mean for your daily life.

We prepare thoroughly for court, negotiate where it is appropriate, and run a contested hearing when that is the right course. If your matter also involves criminal charges or family law proceedings, we explain how they affect each other and what that means for you.