AVO - Apprehended Violence Orders

There are two types of AVO's:

(1) apprehended domestic violence orders (or ADVOs) where there has been a domestic relationship, and

(2) apprehended personal violence orders (or APVOs) where there has been no domestic relationship.

AVOs can be applied for by police or individuals (the ‘applicant’), and are served upon a ‘respondent’.

Although some applications are justified, others are brought by angry or vengeful former partners, or by over-zealous police officers.

AVOs are supposed to be for the protection of ‘persons in need of protection’ (or ‘PINOPs’).

To get a ‘final AVO’, the applicant must prove in court that it is likely that:

(a) the PINOP genuinely fears that the respondent will assault, molest, harass, threaten, stalk or otherwise interfere with her/him, and

(b) there are reasonable grounds for that fear.

Sydney Criminal Lawyers is vastly experienced in defending AVO applications.

It is our job to challenge the AVO by showing that the PINOP either:

(a) does not fear that you will assault, molest, harass, threaten, stalk or otherwise interfere with her/him or

(b) has no reasonable grounds for such a fear.

The court cannot grant a final AVO against you if either of those things are shown.

In some cases, we can shorten your matter by negotiating ‘written undertakings to the court’ - which are promises that neither party will engage in the prohibited behaviour.

That way, the AVO can be withdrawn and you will have no police record.

In other cases, limited AVOs can be agreed ‘without admissions’.

If the matter proceeds to a defended hearing, you can rest assured that an experienced Accredited Criminal Law Specialist will be there to fight for you in court.

Our criminal lawyers are also extensively experienced in charges of ‘contravene AVO’; which can be treated very seriously by the courts.

In fact, the law says that someone who contravenes an AVO by using physical violence should go to gaol unless there are good reasons not to impose a gaol sentence.

It is therefore vitally important to engage an experienced 'AVO lawyer' to represent you in court.

For your peace of mind, Sydney Criminal Lawyers are the only specialist criminal lawyers to offer ‘fixed fees’ for AVO hearings.

We also Guarantee you that an Accredted Criminal Law Specialist will represent you in court; not a 'junior lawyer' or 'non-accredited lawyer'.

Rest assured, we will provide you with the strongest defence against the AVO application in your case.