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Going to court for an intervention order hearing

You will get a summons that will tell you the date of your court hearing. A hearing is when a magistrate listens to your application for a family violence intervention order.

It is usually two to three weeks after the applicant applies for an intervention order. It may be sooner if the respondent (person who the application is against) has been arrested.

Before the hearing date, contact the court to see what time you need to be there. It's best to get there about half an hour before the first court hearing. Usually the first court hearing starts at 10 am.

When you get to court, go to the counter and tell the court registrar you have arrived. The registrar sorts out the order of the hearings on the day. Your case may not be heard straight away. Plan to be there for the whole day.

Do not go too far away. You need to be able to hear your name being called when the magistrate is ready for you.

If the respondent wants to fight (‘contest’) the application, the hearing may not be until the afternoon, or it may be put off to another day. Ask the court staff about this. Also see 'Court proceedings for intervention order hearings' (link below).

Services that can help you at court

Many courts have support services that can help you on the day of your hearing. Ask the court staff who can help you.

Duty lawyer services

If you want to see a lawyer to get legal advice before you go into the courtroom, ask the court registrar if you can see a duty lawyer. A duty lawyer is a lawyer from Victoria Legal Aid or a community legal service who can give you free advice on the day of your hearing.

You may have to wait to see a duty lawyer if they are helping others. They will try to see you as quickly as they can.

Court Network

Court Network volunteers support people at court. They are not lawyers and cannot give legal advice, but they can tell you about how court works. They can also make referrals to other community agencies for support after the hearing.

If you want to see a Court Network volunteer tell the court staff. You can also ring them before you go to court. See ‘Getting help – services' (link below).

More information

Court proceedings for an intervention order hearing

Related publications

Family violence intervention order publications

How we can help

Call Victoria Legal Aid’s (VLA) Legal Information Service for free information over the phone about the law and how we can help you with your legal problem. You can speak to a legal information officer in English or ask for an interpreter.

Phone (03) 9269 0120 or 1800 677 402 (country callers), Monday to Friday from 8.45 am to 5.15 pm.

VLA’s other free legal services include:

  • advice at VLA offices and other locations across Victoria
  • lawyers who are on ‘duty’ at the Magistrates’ Courts who can give you advice on the day of your hearing.

For some matters, we can provide you with a lawyer to help you run your case.

To find out more about any of our legal services see What we do.

Who else can help?

If you are in danger, call the police on ‘000’.

Your local community legal centre (CLC) can give you legal information and advice. Most CLC services are free. See the Community Law website (new window) for more information and CLC contact details.

See Getting help – services for details of organisations that can help with family violence, family dispute resolution and other support services.