Clients who seek our assistance before any court action are advised as to the most appropriate action to be taken, such as making a Violence Restraining Order (VRO) application to the Magistrates Court or an application to the Family Court for parenting orders and injunctions.

Our lawyers also represent clients in court to attempt to resolve the issues without the matter going to trial and also at defended VRO trials.

Duty Lawyer Service for Violence Restraining Order Applicants

A duty lawyer service is provided at Armadale Magistrates Court on a fortnightly basis.  This service assists applicants with family violence restraining order matters.

Our lawyer provides advice to applicants at the ex parte stage of their violence restraining order (VRO) application when they attend court.  Once clients fill out their initial application and affidavit they go before the Magistrate to determine whether they will be granted an interim VRO.  The lawyer assists with advice and filling out supplementary affidavits.

Assistance is provided to applicants at the mention hearing stage of the application.  This is the hearing after the respondent has objected to the VRO. The duty lawyer will assist applicants with negotiations with the respondent and with various options to settle it or set the matter down for a trial.

Publication:

Domestic Violence and the Law Third Edition 2011:A Handbook for Advocates and Support Workers

Disclaimer:
The information contained in this manual is not to be relied upon as giving
substantial legal advice, but as a legal awareness guide. The manual does not
provide a definitive view on the various legislative schemes to which reference is
made. It is not intended to be substituted for legal advice. The law can change at any
time and particular questions should always be referred to a legal adviser.
Some of the laws referred to in this manual have changed since it’s publication in
2011.

Domestic Violence and the Law Third Edition 2011

Useful Links

• Family Violence Service (All Magistrates Courts)

http://www.courts.dotag.wa.gov.au/f/family_violence_service.aspx

• Magistrates Court WA

http://www.magistratescourt.wa.gov.au/R/restraining_orders.aspx?uid=8913-0425-7284-9400

• Domestic Violence Legal Unit (Legal Aid WA)

http://www.legalaid.wa.gov.au/LegalAidServices/specialist/Pages/DomesticViolenceLegalUnit.aspx

• Domestic Violence Advocacy Service (DVAS Central)

http://whfs.org.au/services/fdvs/dvas

• Multicultural Women’s Advocacy Service

http://whfs.org.au/services/fdvs/mwas

• Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC)

http://www.kemh.health.wa.gov.au/services/sarc/

• Starick House Women’s Refuge

http://members.iinet.net.au/~starick/

• Women’s Domestic Violence Helpline

http://www.dcp.wa.gov.au/crisisandemergency/pages/domesticviolencehelplines.aspx

• Men’s Domestic Violence Helpline

http://www.dcp.wa.gov.au/crisisandemergency/pages/domesticviolencehelplines.aspx

• Victims of Crime

http://www.victimsofcrime.wa.gov.au/