Family Violence Lawyers Melbourne

Dealing with domestic violence and family violence matters can be emotionally distressing and challenging to manage without support. Our dedicated team of Melbourne family violence lawyers provide compassionate advice and legal solutions, prioritising our clients’ personal safety and wellbeing.

Book an appointment today with our trusted family violence lawyers in Melbourne.

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Call (03) 9248 5800

“I cannot express how grateful and how thankful I am to you for all of your hard work on our case. Finally we can move on feeling safe. So again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Louise – Queensland

“Thank you Jacky and everyone else at Forte for all your hard work and expertise on my and my children’s behalf. It’s a fairly spectacular result that I’m extremely pleased with.”

Leo – Melbourne

Domestic Violence Lawyers

Our Melbourne Family Violence Lawyers Provide Dedicated & Compassionate Legal Support

If you are facing violence in an intimate personal relationship, or at home, our highly experienced team can assist you with all aspects of legally addressing the situation. We understand the distinct challenges faced by people who are experiencing family violence, and the effect it can have on any family law matters that you are also resolving.

You can trust that the team at Forte Family Lawyers will provide you with the support, advice and representation required to face your matter with peace of mind.

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Why seek advice from our family violence lawyers?

Extensive Experience

Work with a team that has a wealth of experience in handling sensitive and complex family violence cases.

Accredited Specialists

We have lawyers who are Accredited Family Law Specialists, recognised for their high standards of expertise in family violence matters.

Compassionate Guidance

We provide clear, empathetic, and practical advice to support you through what can be a deeply emotional and challenging time.

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Get started by booking an appointment with one of our team members.

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How can our team help?

Our team understands how complex family violence matters can be and the importance of dealing with them in a sensitive yet proactive manner. We know that dealing with intimate partner violence can bring up many mixed feelings and is further complicated when there are children involved. In addition, we are aware that some forms of violence are hidden or less obvious and that addressing these behaviours can be difficult.

We work with people who are experiencing family violence in the following ways:

Assisting with obtaining family violence orders (IVOs)
Representation if you have a court date for an intervention order proceedings
Managing other family law matters such as divorce, separation and parenting matters that are impacted by family violence
Child protection matters, including supervised contact or visitation arrangements
Contesting or responding to orders

I need immediate help with family violence; who can I contact?

If you’re in immediate danger, call 000 for emergency help. You can also contact local domestic violence services, such as 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), or seek advice from a family lawyer or community legal centre for support and guidance.

What are my legal options to address family violence in Victoria?

In Victoria, individuals experiencing family violence have several legal options for protection, including applying for a Family Violence Intervention Order (IVO) to ensure their safety. There are also multiple avenues to seek legal advice for ongoing support and access to resources like support services and counselling. If family violence is affecting co-parenting matters, applications for supervised time, sole care or sole parental responsibility can be made.

What is an IVO?

A Family Violence Intervention Order (IVO) is a court order that protects a person from family violence, including physical, emotional or psychological harm, financial abuse, coercion and control. It can place restrictions on the accused person, such as limiting contact or ordering them to stay away from the protected person.

What is the process for getting an Intervention Order in Victoria?

In Victoria, there are two types of intervention orders, which are family violence IVOs and personal safety IVOs. Both orders are similar, but personal safety orders are for people who have not been in a close or intimate relationship with the person who is perpetrating the violence.

An order in Victoria can be made urgently by police or by the affected individual’s application to the Magistrate’s Court (this can also be done on behalf of another family member, such as children or relatives).

Seek legal advice or contact your local Magistrates court for an application. Applications are free to make.
Report any incidents, including stalking, threats, physical violence, sexual violence or coercive control, to the police or a domestic violence support centre. Police may apply for an IVO on your behalf, especially in cases of serious harm, sexual assault, or threats of harm.
The IVO application is heard in a local court. The person accused will usually not be notified at the time, and will not know about the application until they are served with an interim IVO.
You must attend court on the scheduled date to provide evidence. Please speak to your support person or lawyer if you have safety fears regarding the hearing.
If an IVO is made and the accused breaches the order, they may face criminal charges, a criminal record and possibly a prison sentence. They may also face criminal charges if the events relied upon for the IVO are dealt with as a criminal matter.
In family law cases, an IVO can affect parenting matters, as the safety and best interests of children are relevant. It’s important to ensure you have the support required to navigate the legal system while managing family violence. If you are experiencing domestic violence or family violence, please talk to our team about how we can assist.

What types of family violence intervention orders can be made?

Here’s a brief explanation of a Police Order, Interim Order, and Permanent Order in the context of family violence in Victoria:

Police Order:
The police issue a police order or safety notice if they believe there is an immediate risk of harm. It is a temporary order that can provide protection before a court hearing. The order can last up to 72 hours and can include conditions like no contact with the victim or staying away from the home.
Interim Order:
An Interim Intervention Order (IVO) is a temporary court-ordered Family Violence Intervention Order (IVO) that provides immediate protection while the case is being decided. It is in place until a final court hearing occurs. It can last several weeks or months.
Permanent Order:
A Permanent Order is a final IVO issued by the court after a full hearing. It can last for an extended period, often up to 2 years or more, and provides long-term protection with conditions that restrict the abuser’s behaviour. At the end of this period, the victim/s can apply for an extension of the IVO.

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Meet Our Team Of Family Law Specialists

Our team can guide you through every aspect of domestic violence and family violence, separation and family law.

Jacky Campbell

PARTNER
ACCREDITED FAMILY LAW SPECIALIST

Wendy Kayler-Thomson

PARTNER
ACCREDITED FAMILY LAW SPECIALIST

Jason Walker

PARTNER
ACCREDITED FAMILY LAW SPECIALIST

Jemma Mackenzie

PARTNER
ACCREDITED FAMILY LAW SPECIALIST

Customer Reviews

Excellent

4.3

jayden H.

If you’re after a genuine no BS review, I’ll give you one. Litigation in any sense is stressful, emotional and exhausting, it was for me, so save yourself all of those negative feelings and contact Kristy and Emily at FFL. I engaged numerous firms for months prior to reaching out to Forte Family Lawyers, I felt hopeless by that point, thankfully I struck gold I would never ever have achieved the outcome I did if I did not meet Kristy and Emily, that’s just a simple fact. Litigation is expensive for anyone, but their caring approach, professionalism, industry experience both domestically and internationally are worth ten times what they charge. You won’t be just another number, another client and you will have a genuine commitment by an amazing team that stop at nothing to drive the best possible outcome for you, you won’t get that somewhere else because I tried. I rarely leave reviews, I’m not paid to do this review, I wasn’t asked to do this review. It’s the truth for anyone who’s scared to make a wrong decision, call them because that is the only right decision you can make. I won’t forget you guys. Thank you. Regarding some of the negative reviews, just remember the “client instructs the lawyer” not the other way around. Forte are very clear on this from day one.

Response from the owner:Hi Jayden, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience and for your incredibly generous words. We understand how challenging family law litigation can be, and we are truly grateful for the trust you placed in us during such an important time for you and your child. It means a great deal to know that you felt supported, heard, and guided throughout the process, and that our efforts helped achieve a positive outcome for you and your family. On behalf of Emily, myself, and the entire team, thank you for your kind recommendation and for allowing us to assist you. We wish you all the very best for the future and are honoured to have been able to support you through this chapter of your life.

Hayli H.

Forte Family Lawyers have been absolutely exceptional throughout our matter. From the very beginning, the entire team demonstrated professionalism, strategic thinking, compassion and an incredible depth of family law knowledge. A special thank you to Jacky Campbell, whose strategy, experience and understanding of the family law system were second to none. Jacky always seemed several steps ahead, gave honest and practical advice, and approached every issue with confidence and precision. Having someone so knowledgeable leading the matter provided enormous reassurance during an incredibly stressful time. Sarah Clarke deserves enormous recognition for her outstanding dedication, attention to detail and work ethic throughout the entire process. Sarah was incredibly thorough and consistently demonstrated an exceptional understanding of the file, even across a huge volume of material and complex issues. Her memory and retention of detail were genuinely impressive and she always seemed completely across every development, date, allegation, document and strategic point without anything ever needing to be repeated. She was proactive, organised, responsive and clearly invested in achieving the best possible outcome for us. Her professionalism and commitment gave us enormous confidence at every stage. Roderick Rajesh was also fantastic throughout the process. Although he joined the matter later on, he came into the file completely across every detail almost immediately, which gave us enormous confidence in his ability and professionalism. His memory, retention of information and understanding of the history of the matter were genuinely impressive. Combined with his calm, supportive and reassuring nature, he made a huge difference during some very stressful periods. He always took the time to listen, explain things clearly and provide thoughtful guidance when it was needed most. Silvia at reception was always incredibly warm, welcoming and helpful. She consistently provided amazing customer service and made communication with the firm easy and comfortable. The entire team at Forte Family Lawyers worked collaboratively, efficiently and professionally throughout our matter. You can tell they genuinely care about their clients and take pride in achieving the best possible outcomes. We cannot recommend Forte Family Lawyers highly enough to anyone needing experienced, strategic and compassionate family law representation.

Response from the owner:Dear Hayli, Thank you for sharing your experience with us. It was an absolute pleasure to support your family through the family law process. Jacky, Sarah, Roderick, Silvia and the wider team, appreciate your sincere and thoughtful words. It is wonderful to hear about how we contributed to a positive experience for you. It feels profoundly rewarding to know that you felt supported, informed and confident in our team, as these are the values that guide our work every day. Thank you again for the trust you placed in us. It was a privilege to work with such a lovely family.

Kerry N.

At a time when life looked incredibly bleak, the wonderful team at Forte Family Lawyers gave me hope and allayed my worst fears. Kristy Haranas patiently explained how the law worked, helped me comprehend the uncertainty associated with court action, and fought hard for a settlement I can live with. Yes, Kristy, it would have been an interesting case to litigate, and I thank you enormously for not letting me take that path. Jackie Campbell and Sarah Clarke were equally fabulous.

Response from the owner:We are so pleased to hear that you felt supported during such a challenging period, Kerry. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. Kristy, Jacky, Sarah and the broader team appreciate your kind words. Your thoughtful reflections on the decisions you made throughout your family law matter, with our guidance, mean a great deal to us. Supporting our clients to navigate uncertainty with clarity and a considered way forward is always our aim. We wish you all the very best for the future.

Sally A.

The expertise and professionalism I received from Jemma Mackenzie and the team at Forte was outstanding. They took the time to listen to my concerns, understand my situation, and at every stage helped me understand the legal process and the options available. Forte's team made me feel supported, knowledgeable and empowered to make the decisions required for my matter. I highly recommend!

Response from the owner:Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with Forte. We make every effort to ensure each of our clients feel supported and informed at each stage of their matter, as well as providing our legal expertise. We are pleased to hear that this was your experience in working with Jemma and the team.

sharon R.

Reflecting on the last 2 & a half years & where our family are now, thank you Forte Team. From Sylvia’s friendly welcome to the enormous amount of time, effort, prompt advice & caring support Jacky, Sarah & all involved consistently gave us. You guided us through very complex circumstances with compassion & professional focus. Because of you, we are now part of a village helping a child to have the best life possible.

Response from the owner:Thank you so much, Sharon, for your incredibly kind and thoughtful words. Jacky, Sarah, Silvia and everyone involved truly appreciate your recognition of their care, dedication and support. We understand how complex and emotional your journey has been, and it has been our privilege to support your family through this process. We are sincerely thankful for the trust you placed in us to guide you through the family law journey.

Julia T.

Thorough and compassionate advice provided by Kristy under urgent and distressing circumstances. Thank you 🙏

Sarah N.

I want to thank Jason & Elizabeth for the time taken to share their legal expertise not only with a high level of knowledge & understanding of the system, but also with the utmost care and empathy. I won’t forget how I went into that appointment feeling empty & how I left feeling like I had a sense of direction and a new found hope that the light at the end of the tunnel was closer in sight than initially expected. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words. We are truly grateful that you took the time to share your experience. Family law matters can be deeply personal and emotionally challenging, so it means a great deal to know that Jason and Elizabeth were able to provide not only clear legal guidance, but also the care, empathy and support you needed during such a difficult time. Knowing that you left your appointment with a greater sense of direction and renewed hope is the highest compliment we could receive. Thank you for placing your trust in us.

David T.

I would personally like to thank Jacky and Matthew for their assistance during a difficult period in my life. They made the ordeal seem seamless and kept me up to date with all aspects of my matter. I would not hesitate to recommend their services to anyone who requires a family lawyer.

Gunter L.

Jackie Campbell and her associates provided our family the highest quality service in a very difficult matter. At all times Jackie shared her professional experience with compassion, expert clarity and focus to follow process in order to allow settlement in the best interest of the younger family members who matter most in family disputes. If ever required we would not hesitate to utilise her services again and highly recommend Forte Lawyers to others seeking a high quality expert family lawyer.

Response from the owner:Thanks Gunter. I wish you and your family well in the future. Regards Jacky

Christopher S.

Legal Minds retained Jackie Campbell (Partner) of Forte Family Lawyers to prepare an expert witness report that was relied upon in complex litigation in the NSW Supreme Court involving six parties. The matter concerned the drafting and procedures required for entering into a purported financial agreement. Jackie was focused, punctual and delivered a comprehensive analysis that all parties considered making it possible to settle without the cost and imposition of ongoing protracted litigation. We are grateful to have had the benefit of Jackie's professional knowledge and expertise to assist us and would not hesitate to retain her services again.

Response from the owner:Thanks Chris. It was great to help you and your client on this matter. Equally, your commitment to the client was outstanding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is family violence?

If you are experiencing family violence and in immediate danger, please call 000.

In Victoria, the Family Violence Protection Act 2008 (Vic) (“FVPA”) governs family violence and intervention orders. Family violence includes behaviour by a person towards a family member (the affected family member) that is:

Physically or sexually abusive
Emotionally or psychologically abusive
Economically abusive
Threatening or coercive
Any other behaviour that controls or dominates the family member and causes them to fear for their safety or wellbeing or for the safety or wellbeing of another person.

Family violence also includes behaviour by a person that causes a child to hear, witness or be exposed to the effects of family violence. The behaviour does not have to be a criminal offence to be family violence. Please get in touch with our Melbourne domestic violence and family violence lawyers for further assistance in this area.

What are the types of family violence?

The Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) (“FLA”) governs family violence in family law proceedings in the Commonwealth Courts. Family violence is defined as violent, threatening, harmful behaviour by a person that coerces or controls a member (or members) of the person’s family (the family member) or causes the family member to be fearful.

Physical or sexual abuse

This can include assault or causing personal injury to a family member, sexually assaulting a family member, engaging in sexually coercive behaviour or threatening such behaviour.

Emotional or psychological abuse

Emotional or psychological abuse means behaviour by a person towards another person that torments, intimidates, harasses or is offensive to the other person.

This can include repeated derogatory taunts, preventing a person from making or keeping connections with the person’s family, friends or culture, and threatening to commit suicide or self-harm with the intention of intimidating a family member or threatening the death or injury of another person.

Economic abuse

Economic abuse is behaviour that is coercive, deceptive and unreasonably controls another person without that person’s consent in a way that undermines that person’s economic or financial autonomy or withholds or threatens to withhold financial support necessary for reasonable living expenses.

This can include preventing a person from having access to joint financial assets for the purposes of meeting normal household expenses, disposing of property owned by a person or owned jointly with a person against the person’s wishes and without lawful excuse, and coercing a person to relinquish control over assets and income.

Coercion or control, coercive control fear for safety

Any behaviour that coerces, controls or causes the family member to be fearful for their safety or wellbeing or for the safety or wellbeing of another person is family violence.

Examples include intentionally harming or threatening to harm an animal, damaging or threatening to damage property, preventing the family member from keeping connections with friends or family, denying their liberty or stalking.

A child hearing, witnessing or otherwise exposed to any of the above

A child can be exposed to family violence by overhearing threats, seeing or hearing an assault, providing or comforting assistance to a family member who has been physically abused by another family member, or cleaning up a site after a family member has intentionally damaged another family member’s property.

How does family violence affect parenting matters?

Family violence can significantly impact parenting matters, as the safety and wellbeing of children are the Federal Circuit and Family Court’s primary concern. In situations of family violence, courts may limit or supervise the abusive parent’s contact with the children. The court may also make orders for protection, such as supervised visits, restricted parenting time or no contact, to ensure the child’s safety and emotional health.

Recent changes to family law in Australia emphasise the importance of protecting children from harm, including the effects of family violence. Under the Family Law Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Act 2018 and the recent 2024 Family Law Act Amendments, the courts now have a greater focus on the safety of children and family violence when making decisions about parenting arrangements.

How does family violence affect property settlement?

Family violence can influence property settlement in divorce or separation proceedings. If family violence is proven, it may affect the way assets are divided as courts consider the impact of abuse on the victim’s financial and emotional wellbeing. In some cases, the abusive partner may receive a smaller share of the property or assets to account for the harm caused by their behaviour.

Recent reforms in Australian family law have strengthened how family violence is considered in property settlements. The Family Law Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Act 2018 and 2024 Family Law Amendments have made it clear that the impact of family violence can be a relevant factor in the division of property. The courts now have more discretion to adjust the property settlement to reflect the abuse, such as awarding a greater share of assets to the victim of family violence. These changes aim to ensure that victims are not disadvantaged by the abuse they experienced when determining financial settlements.

Is family violence a criminal offence?

An intervention order is not a criminal matter; it is a civil matter. A Family Violence Intervention Order (IVO) is a court order aimed at protecting individuals from family violence. It places conditions on the alleged abuser, like no contact or staying away. The burden of proof is lower, and the order focuses on safety, not punishment.

A criminal charge is a formal accusation made by the police for offences like assault or sexual violence. The prosecution must prove the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the offender may face penalties like fines or imprisonment. Breaches and certain types of family violence are criminal offences in Australia, though. Offences such as assault, stalking, sexual violence, and threats within a family or domestic context are punishable under criminal law.

What is the punishment for domestic violence in Australia?

Punishments for domestic violence in Australia vary based on the severity of the offence. Convictions may result in fines, restraining orders, or imprisonment. Serious cases of physical or sexual violence can lead to long prison sentences.

What are the four ways of handling domestic violence?

Seek legal protection: Apply for an IVO or other legal protections.
Police intervention: Report to the police for investigation and potential charges.
Support services: Access domestic violence support services for assistance and guidance.
Counselling & therapy: Seek counselling for both the victim and the perpetrator to address underlying issues.

I feel I've had a Family Violence Intervention Order placed on me incorrectly; what can I do?

If you believe an IVO has been placed on you incorrectly and you have not committed family violence, you can contest the order in court. You should seek legal advice from a professional family violence lawyer to help you understand your rights and options.

In Victoria, breaching a Family Violence Intervention Order (IVO) can result in serious penalties. The penalties depend on the severity of the breach.