QLD - Domestic Violence Order (DVO)

This article will show you how to:

• Create a Domestic Violence Order matter
• Enter Parties
• Enter Order Details
• Enter the Court Details
• Enter the Court
• Add Uncommon Contacts 
• Change existing General matter to Domestic Violence Order

 To create a new Domestic Violence Order matter, follow the steps below. 

1. Click New Matter from the Home Screen.
2. Select State: QLD
3. Select Matter Type: Domestic Violence Order
4. Select which party you are acting for (Applicant, Aggrieved or Respondent): 
   

5. Enter Parties 

   Enter the Applicant, Aggrieved, and Respondent party details.
   1. If the Applicant is also the Aggrieved, enter this contact for both roles, and select 'The Aggrieved' as type of Applicant (in Applicant Details):
      
   2. If you represent both the Aggrieved and the Applicant (or if they are the same), right-click and select 'I represent this [party]' on the other role:
      
      - See Adding Contacts for more information on adding contacts generally. 
   3. Open 'Applicant Details' to enter further information about the particular Applicant. This is also where you can enter the Registration Number and Occurrence Number for a Police Applicant:
      
      
6. Select 'Order Details' to enter the type of order, effective dates, conditions and exclusions. These details can be updated throughout the matter:
   
7. Select 'Court Details' to enter the Case Number, Registry and Court details:
   
8. Enter the Court within the Court Details window. This will add the Court contact to your matter the same as any other contact card, allowing you to contact the Court and ensure automation works correctly. You do not need to add the Court as an additional contact outside of the Court Details window:
   
9. To add Uncommon Contacts to your matter, open the Matter Settings and select the appropriate contact from the Parties & Data available in your matter.
   For Domestic Violence Order (QLD), the available parties include Legal Aid, Barrister, Legal Agent, Expert, Witness, Process Server, Previous Solicitor and Additional Contacts:
   

Change existing General matter to Domestic Violence Order

Existing QLD General matters can be easily changed to Domestic Violence Order as follows:

1. Open your existing General matter (used for Domestic Violence)
2. Open Matter Type
3. Select change...
4. Select new Matter Type as Protection Orders > Domestic Violence Order
5. Select OK:
   
6. Select which Party you are acting for
7. Enter Reason For Change
8. Select OK:
   

Your matter will now appear as 'Domestic Violence Order', with the party roles and layouts that are available in the Domestic Violence Order matter:

We have new Domestic Violence Order precedents and forms available in the Smokeball Precedent Library, including automated Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act forms:

You can also 'Request a form' to have additional forms added to the Precedent Library!