Home > Legal information > Intervention orders > When an intervention order is made > When an intervention order starts

When an intervention order starts

An intervention order starts when it has been:

  • given to the respondent at court
  • served to the respondent by police.

Getting an intervention order at court

If the respondent was at court when the magistrate made the final order or extended an interim order, they will get the order from court staff after the hearing. The order will start once the final order is handed to the respondent. See ‘Court proceedings for an intervention order hearing’ (link below).

Getting served with an intervention order by police

The police can serve (give) the interim or final order to the respondent. To serve the order the police can:

  • hand the order to the respondent in person 
  • post, fax, email or leave the order at the respondent's address.

If the police cannot find the respondent, they can ask a magistrate for a 'substituted service'. This is where the magistrate orders that the intervention order can be served on someone else, such as a family member, boss or associate.

A magistrate will only agree to this if:

  • the respondent can’t be served personally 
  • the intervention order is likely to be passed on to the respondent by the person being served the order.   

Find out if the respondent has been served

You should find out when the respondent has been served so you know when the intervention order starts. It may not be safe to go home until you know the respondent has got the order.

To find out if the respondent has been served, ring the police or the court. It's best to check a day or two later after the order was issued.

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 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.