Criminal Law

Violence Restraining Order (VRO) Proceedings

What Is A Domestic Violence Restraining Order?

A Violence Restraining Order (VRO) is an order of the court which tells the offender to stay away from a person and/or to stop behaving in certain ways towards a person. The order is designed to stop threats, violence and emotional abuse from occurring immediately in the future.

If you are in a relationship or a situation where you are receiving threats, have experienced violence, or emotional abuse is occurring, you require the services of a VRO lawyer in Perth. Andrew Williams provides representation to applicants in Violence Restraining Order (VRO) proceedings. He helps to ensure an order from the court is made for the respondent to stay away from or cease to behave in a certain manner towards the applicant.

Essentially There Are Two Types Of VRO’s:

  1. The first involves a situation where the person protected by the VRO is in a family or domestic relationship with the person against whom the order is made.
  2. The second involves a situation where the person protected is not in a family or domestic relationship with the opposing party, but where the court finds that there has been an act of abuse or personal violence committed against the person seeking to be protected and becomes satisfied that such an act of abuse or personal violence is likely to occur again in the future unless the person is restrained.

The Court can order that a VRO is made final if a respondent does not object to the order being made. Usually, the consent is made without any admission of the allegations made by the applicant. Alternatively, where the respondent objects to the order, the evidence is then heard in court. If the applicant, in these circumstances, can prove that there are reasonable grounds for the application being made and that they are in need of protection from any acts of abuse, the court will order that the VRO be made final.

There’s Been A VRO Application Made Against Me

Our firm acts for both applicants and respondents in VRO and Misconduct Restraining Order matters. If an individual makes an application for a VRO against you, it is your right to object to the order being made final. In these circumstances, the matter is adjourned to a trial date where both parties attend and give evidence.

An interim VRO is generally put in place by the court in the period leading up to the final order trial date. A VRO is a civil matter and does not carry a criminal conviction. However, breaching a VRO is a serious criminal offence and the legislation now provides for a mandatory term of imprisonment in specific instances.

Need A VRO Lawyer In Perth?

As a VRO lawyer in Perth, Andrew Williams understands the emotional impact that going through the VRO process can have on an individual. If you want to initiate proceedings for a Violence Restraining Order or Misconduct Restraining Order application contact us for sound and comprehensive advice and assistance in moving the case forward and achieving the best possible result.

Andrew Williams Criminal Law Offices will provide sound advice on the best path to take for each and every individual case carrying its own particular set of circumstances.

With a commitment to quality legal representation, Andrew Williams himself has gained a solid reputation as one of the leading VRO lawyers in Perth. His prior success and track record in these matters speak for itself.

It is an order of the court which tells the offender to stay away from a person and/or to stop behaving in certain ways towards a person. The order is designed to stop threats, violence and emotional abuse from occurring immediately and in the future.

A VRO is a civil matter and does not carry a criminal conviction. However, breaching a VRO is a serious criminal offence and the legislation now provides for a mandatory term of imprisonment in specific instances.

You can challenge an application for a final order VRO if it is made against you.. You can also apply to cancel or vary the conditions of a VRO in certain circumstances such as where the protected person has repeatedly invited, encouraged or somehow tried to get you to breach the order, or where there has been a substantial change in circumstances since the final order was made.

A person making an application for a VRO must be able to prove that they have reasonable grounds for the application being made.  They must also prove that an act of abuse has occurred and that they are reasonably believe that future acts of abuse are likely to occur.

Please contact us today to discuss your matter.

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