Apprehended Violence Orders: Answering Some Commonly Asked Questions

An Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) is an order issued by the court to prevent an individual from harming or intimidating another person or their family members. An AVO can be given to anyone, whether they are the victim of domestic violence or the accused party. Below are some commonly asked questions about AVO answered by reputable Sydney defence lawyers.

What is AVO in Sydney?

An AVO is a court order that is made to protect a person from assault or intimidation. The order is made by a magistrate at court.

The person the order is made against (that is you) is called the 'defendant'.

The order lists conditions that you must obey. These conditions are designed to shield the Person In Need Of Protection (PINOP) from violence or harassment. They may include orders that you must not contact the PINOP, stay away from their home, school or place of work, stay a certain distance away from them, and not own any weapons. It may be an offence if you breach these conditions.

What Are the Types of AVOs?

According to Sydney defence lawyers, there are two types of AVOs in New South Wales: Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO) and Apprehended Personal Violence Order (APVO).

An ADVO can be issued against a person who has committed, or the court believes will commit, an act of domestic violence. This is applicable in situations like being married, or you are a relative of the PINOP.

An APVO can be issued against a person who has committed, or the court believes will commit, an act of personal violence. This applies to parties who have no domestic or family relationships. In this case, the PINOP could be your neighbour, friend, or acquaintance.

How Does an AVO Impact You?

If you have been served with an AVO, there are a few things you should know. First and foremost, it is important to understand that an AVO is a civil order, not a criminal one. However, due to the restrictions imposed by an AVO, it can have a significant impact on your personal and professional life. You may also find that an AVO hinders your ability to see and live near the PINOP. This can make it difficult for you and your family to have meaningful connections, creating a huge strain on your lives.

What Should You Do When You're Served With an AVO?

If you have been served with an AVO, it is important to seek legal advice from criminal lawyers in Sydney as soon as possible. You may need to change your daily routine or make other changes in order to comply with the terms of the AVO. Hire a competent lawyer if you haven't already.

An Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) can be incredibly helpful in protecting domestic violence victims and keeping them safe. However, while it may seem simple at first glance, there are some nuances to an AVO that can easily trip people up. Check out the Sydney criminal lawyers blog for more.

The author works at a renowned criminal law firm that has been assisting several clients with criminal cases. He writes about criminal law on the Sydney criminal lawyers blog. To know more, visit https://powerhouselaw.sydney/.

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