Only a judge can change the rules in a DVO.
You must go to court to change the DVO.
It is good to get help from a lawyer in court.
- Ask a lawyer for help if you want to go to court to change a DVO. Call a legal service below.
- In court, you can tell the judge why you want to change the DVO rules.
- The judge will decide if the DVO will change, stay the same or if the DVO should be cancelled.
- To change a DVO you must show the judge that things have changed now from when the DVO was made and the protected person will be safe.
- Talk to a lawyer if you want to change a temporary DVO.
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Who Can Help? (Service Providers)
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| Can I change, end, or extend the domestic violence order? |
| Domestic Violence Orders – Information for People in need of Protection
This factsheet has information for people who need protection from domestic violence. |
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A lawyer can help
This video explains what a domestic violence order (DVO) is, how it can help you, and how a lawyer can help you sort things out.
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This audio explains the words protected person in Yolngu Matha. Click here for more recordings like this.
Glossary: What these words mean
| protected person | The person protected by the domestic violence order (DVO). |
| temporary domestic violence order (DVO) | If the police think someone isn’t safe they can make a temporary (also called interim) domestic violence order (DVO). For example, the police might make a temporary DVO when someone calls them because there is violence. A temporary DVO only lasts until it is talked about again in court. A judge can also make a temporary DVO. See also Domestic Violence Order (DVO). |
| domestic violence order (DVO) | A domestic violence order (DVO) is a law-paper from the police or a judge. A DVO has rules to protect people from domestic violence. A DVO can make rules about what a person can do. For example, a no-contact DVO means no going near, calling, texting, or contacting the person protected by the order. A non-intoxication order means no alcohol or drugs. If someone breaks the rules of a DVO they are doing a crime. When the police make the DVO it only lasts until a judge talks about it in court. The judge decides if the DVO keeps going and what rules it has. |