Changing an intervention order (FVIO)
If your situation has changed, you can apply to change the family violence intervention order. The magistrate will assess how it will affect the protected persons and decide.
If your circumstances have changed or if there are other reasons, you may apply to change the family violence intervention order.
Changing an order is when you want:
- to change the conditions of the order (called varying, or a variation)
- the order to last longer (called extending, or an extension)
- to cancel the order (called revoking, or a revocation).
If your intervention order was to protect a person who is not a family member, partner or ex-partner, see the changing personal safety intervention orders page.
How to vary
The process for changing a family violence intervention order has temporarily changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please complete the following documents and contact your nearest court:
If you are the applicant or affected person, you may want to change the order if you:
- need more protection
- find the conditions in the order difficult to manage
- want to have contact with the respondent.
To vary, fill in the application to extend, vary or revoke a family violence intervention order form. Print it and bring it to the court where the order was made. You can also do it at the court.
The court registrar will give a date for the court hearing. The application will be served on the other person. If the police took out the order, they will receive the documents too.
At the hearing, you need to show there has been a change in circumstances.
If you are the respondent, you may want to change the order if you:
- find the conditions in the order difficult to manage
- your circumstances have changed
- want to have contact with the applicant.
The court must first grant permission to apply for a change. This is called an application for leave. Fill in the application to extend, vary or revoke a family violence intervention order form. Print it and bring it to the court where the order was made. You can also do it at the court.
There will be a court hearing where the magistrate will decide if you can apply. You must demonstrate that new facts and circumstances have arisen since the order was made which justify the changes you seek.
If you are allowed to apply, the application will be served on the other person. If the police took out the order, they will receive the documents too.
How to extend
The process for changing a family violence intervention order has temporarily changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please complete the following documents and contact your nearest court:
If you’re the applicant or affected person
If you want the order to last longer, because you are still concerned for your safety, you can apply for an extension. You need to do this at least four weeks before your order expires.
To extend, fill in the application to extend, vary or revoke a family violence intervention order form. Print it and bring it to the court where the family violence intervention order was made. You can also do it at the court.
The court registrar will give a date for the court hearing. The application will be served on the respondent. If the police took out the order, they will receive the documents too.
If you are the respondent
The court must first grant permission to apply for a change. This is called an application for leave. Fill in the application to extend, vary or revoke a family violence intervention order form. Print it and bring it to the court where the family violence intervention order was made. You can also do it at the court.
There will be a court hearing where the magistrate will decide if you can apply. You must demonstrate that new facts and circumstances exist which justify the change you seek.
If you are allowed to apply, the application will be served on the other person. If the police took out the order, they will receive the documents too.
How to revoke
The process for changing a family violence intervention order has temporarily changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please complete the following documents and contact your nearest court:
If you’re the applicant or affected person
If you do not want to have the order, you can apply for a revocation.
Fill in the application to extend, vary or revoke a family violence intervention order form. Print it and bring it to the court where the family violence intervention order was made. You can also do it at the court.
The court registrar will give a date for the court hearing. The application will be served on the other person. If the police took out the order, they will receive the documents too.
If you are the respondent
The court must first grant permission to apply for a change. This is called an application for leave. Fill in the application to extend, vary or revoke a family violence intervention order form. Print it and bring it to the court where the family violence intervention order was made. You can also do it at the court.
There will be a court hearing where the magistrate will decide if you can apply. You must show that there has been a change in circumstances which have arisen since the order was made.
If you are allowed to apply, the application will be served on the other person. If the police took out the order, they will receive the documents too.
For more information on how to change your order, contact the court where the order was made.
Related forms
Resources
This is not a full list of legislation associated with this topic. See the Victorian Government's legislation website for more information.
Related information
