​ሕግንና ደንብን በተመለከተ እርዳታ ማግኘት ይፈልጋሉን? - Amharic | هل تحتاج لمساعدة قانونية؟ - Arabic | ܤܢܝܼܩܵܐ ܝ݇ܘ̤ܬ ܠܗܲܝܵܪܬܵܐ ܩܵܢܘܿܢܵܝܬܵܐ؟ - Assyrian | Need Legal Help? - Auslan | Treba li vam pravna pomoc? - Bosnian | Burmese â Need Legal Help? | 需要法律帮助吗? - Chinese Simplified | 需要法律幫助嗎? - Chinese Traditional | Trebate li pravnu pomoć? - Croatian | ضرورت به کمک قانونی دارید؟ - Dari | Wïc Kuɔɔny në Wɛ̈t Löŋ? - Dinka | آیا به کمک حقوقی نیاز دارید؟ - Farsi | Gadreva na Veivuke Vakalawa? - Fijian | Kailangan ninyo ba ng tulong na panglegal? - Filipino | Besoin d’aide juridique ? - French | Χρειάζεστε βοήθεια σε νομικά ζητήματα - Greek | क्या आपको कानूनी सलाह चाहिए? - Hindi | Butuhkan Bantuan dalam Masalah Hukum? - Indonesian | Hai bisogno di assistenza legale? - Italian | ត្រូវការជំនួយលើបញ្ហាផ្លូវច្បាប់ឬទេ? - Khmer | 법적인 도움이 필요하십니까? - Korean | Ви треба ли помош со правни работи? - Macedonian | कानूनी सहयोग चाहिएको छ? - Nepalese | Necessita de ajuda com questões jurídicas? - Portuguese | Вам нужна юридическая помощь? - Russian | E Manaomia Fesoasoani i Mea Tau Tulafono? - Samoan | а ли вам треба помоћ у правним питањима? - Serbian | Ma u baahan tahay Caawimmad xagga sharciga ah?- Somali | ¿Necesita ayuda con cuestiones jurídicas? - Spanish | சட்ட உதவி தேவையா? - Tamil | ท่านต้องการความช่วยเหลือทางด้านกฎหมายไหม? - Thai | Fiema’u ha tokoni Fakalao? - Tongan | Yasal Danışmaya İhtiyacınız mı var? - Turkish | Cần Được Giúp Đỡ Về Luật Pháp? - Vietnamese |

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After court - Defendant

If the Court makes a Final Apprehended Violence Order (AVO), there are a number of things you should consider.

AlertIf you need help understanding your AVO, you should get legal advice. 

Aboriginal people can get help to understand an AVO by speaking to an Aboriginal Service Unit worker at the Local Court, or by calling the Aboriginal Services Unit on 1300 679 272.

    ​​Consequences​​ ​​of ​​an Apprehended Violence Order

    If the Court makes a Final Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) against you, there may be consequences that you should be aware of. 

    For more information, see Consequences of an Apprehended Violence Order.

    ​Consequences of breaching an Apprehended Violence Order

    You will breach your Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) if you knowingly do something that the AVO says you are not allowed to do.

    If you breach any of the orders, you may be arrested and charged with a criminal offence.

    AlertFrom 25 November 2017, NSW Police can enforce Domestic Violence Orders made on or after this date in other Australian states and territories. Other states and territories can also enforce an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order made in NSW from this date. 

    For more information, see Consequences of breaching an Apprehended Violence Order. ​

    Varying (changing) or revoking (cancelling) an Apprehended Violence Order

    After a Final Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) is made, it can be:

    • varied (changed), or
    • revoked (cancelled). 

    An AVO can varied (changed) to:

    • extend the duration of the AVO
    • reduce the duration of the AVO
    • add orders
    • delete orders
    • amend (change) orders. 

    AlertFrom 25 November 2017,other states and territories will also be able to vary or revoke a Domestic Violence Order (DVO) made in NSW, and make a new DVO for the same parties. A Local Court in NSW can also vary or revoke orders made in other states and territories.

    For more information, see Varying (changing) or revoking (cancelling) an Apprehended Violence Order.

    Interstat​​e orders

    If a Final Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) is made against you in another state or territory, or in New Zealand, the protected person can register it in NSW.

    If a Final AVO is made against you in NSW, the protected person may be able to register it in another state or territory, or in New Zealand.

    AlertFrom 25 November 2017 all Domestic Violence Orders (DVOs) are now automatically recognised and enforceable. This means that NSW Police can enforce DVOs made on or after this date in other Australian states and territories. Other states and territories can also enforce an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order made in NSW from this date. 

    AlertApprehended Personal Violence Orders are not nationally recognised and enforceable. They must be registered interstate to be recognised. 

    For more information, see Interstate orders.

    Application for Annulment

    If a Final Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) is made against you when you are not in court, you can apply to have it annulled (cancelled) within two years of the date of the order. Your application for annulment will be heard by the same court that made the AVO. 

    If the decision is cancelled the Court will re-hear the application for an AVO. You should be prepared to respond to the application for the AVO.

    If the application was dismissed because the applicant or protected person didn't attend court, the applicant can apply to annul the decision. 

    If the applicant applies to annul the decision, you will be notified by the Court. 

    For more information, see Application for Annulment.

    Appealing the decision

    If you are unhappy with the decision of the Local Court, you may be able to appeal to the District Court within 28 days, or three months with leave (permission) of the Court.

    You may be able to appeal if the Court:

    • makes a Final Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) against you
    • makes a costs order against you
    • dismisses your Annulment Application
    • varies the AVO
    • dismisses your application to vary or revoke the AVO. 

    If the AVO application is dismissed, the applicant may appeal the Court’s decision. 

    Alert IconBefore filing an appeal, you should get legal advice. 

    For more information, see Appealing the decision – Defendant.