Going to court - Protected person
When you apply for an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) you may have to go to court more than once.
You will need to go to court for the mention (the first court date). Then, depending on what you and the defendant want to do, you may have to go to court for further mentions and a hearing.
The Local Court provides free interpreters in AVO matters. For more information, see Arranging interpreters.
There are also support services available to assist people with a disability attending court for an AVO matter. For more information, see Arranging access for people with disabilities.
The mention
At the mention the Court will ask you and the defendant what you want to do. Depending on what you tell the Court, your case might be finalised on the day, or it might be adjourned (postponed) to another day.
Before the mention, you should consider:
- Who is going to represent you
- What to take to the mention
- What might happen at the mention
- Your options
- How the defendant might respond.
For more information, see The mention.
Preparing your evidence
If the defendant doesn't agree to the Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) being made, the Court may make directions (orders) for statements to be filed and served in preparation for a hearing.
For more information on preparing written evidence, see
Written statements and evidence.
Your case will then be listed for another mention.
After the Court has checked that you and the defendant have followed directions to file statements, it may list the case for a hearing. The hearing may be in a couple of weeks or months, depending on how busy the Court is.
When your case is listed for hearing, the Court will need to know:
- how many witnesses you need at the hearing
- if you or anyone else need an interpreter
- any dates that you are not available to go to court.
Step by step guide: Preparing for the hearing.
The hearing
At the hearing, the Court will read any statements that have been filed and hear the rest of the evidence in the case.
It is important that you prepare for the hearing so you can tell the Court about your application and answer the Court's questions.
For more information, see
Arguing your case.
Step by step guide: Presenting your case at the hearing.
The decision
After reading all statements and hearing all the evidence, the Court will either:
- make a Final Apprehended Violence Order (AVO), or
- dismiss the application.
For more information, see
The decision.