Legal Project Management Plan & Checklist
Purpose of this Guide: Use this plan when your client is the aggrieved person seeking a Domestic Violence Order against a respondent in Queensland. Open it from intake through to the final contested hearing, whether you are pursuing a same-day Temporary Protection Order or navigating a fully litigated matter. It covers lethality triage, drafting the sworn application, ex parte advocacy, evidence preparation, and post-hearing closure.
Jurisdiction: Queensland Magistrates Court, applying the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 (Qld). The plan covers two forks: an Urgent Temporary Protection Order application (where the respondent has not yet been served) and an Application for Variation (where an existing order needs to be changed).
The Process at a Glance: The matter begins with client triage - verifying identity, assessing lethality indicators, and establishing a safety plan. The lawyer then drafts the sworn Form DV01 Application for a Protection Order, disclosing any other court orders involving the parties (for example family law orders or another domestic violence order) at section 10 of the form, and, where required, a Form DV01C Confidential Contact Details Form. If the client is in immediate danger, the lawyer appears ex parte before a Magistrate to secure a Temporary Protection Order under section 47 before the respondent is served. Queensland Police then personally serve the respondent, and the matter returns to court at a First Mention where it may resolve by consent or proceed to a contested timetable. In contested matters, both parties file formal affidavits using Form DV25, subpoenas are issued for corroborating records, and the matter ultimately proceeds to a Final Hearing where the Magistrate determines whether to make a Final Protection Order.
Use this fork when your client is at immediate risk of harm and the application must be heard before the respondent is served. This plan covers the compressed, same-day or next-morning workflow for obtaining an urgent ex parte Temporary Protection Order under section 47, from emergency triage through to the return date.
Use this fork when a Final Protection Order is already in place and your client needs to change its conditions - for example, to add a new named person, alter contact exceptions, remove an ouster condition, or extend the order duration. The variation must be justified by a material change in circumstances.
Key Legislation and Case Law: Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 (Qld) - s 8 (definition of domestic violence including physical, emotional, psychological, economic abuse and coercive control), s 13 (relevant relationship categories: intimate personal, family, informal care), s 37 (three-limb test: relevant relationship, act of domestic violence, necessary or desirable), s 47 (Temporary Protection Order - ex parte urgency test), s 56 (standard non-contact conditions), s 64 (ouster conditions), s 83 (weapons and licence suspension), s 150 (special witness facilities - video link, screens, support persons), s 157 (costs in frivolous or vexatious applications), s 177 (criminal offence to breach a protection order - up to 3 years imprisonment, or 5 years for prior breaches). Forms: DV01, DV01A (guide to completing the application), DV01B (safety form), DV01C (confidential contact details form), DV22, DV22A, DV25. Filed at any Magistrates Court in person or by post, or by email in limited circumstances - see Queensland Courts. Costs disclosure obligations under Part 3.4 of the Legal Profession Act 2007 (Qld). Browne v Dunn applies to cross-examination obligations at the final hearing.
* Disclaimer: We're nobody's lawyer, because we aren't lawyers. You are, so you know better than to take legal advice from an app. We also aren't accountants or dog trainers - just digital spirit guides taking zero liability for any of this. This site exists to gather the collective knowledge of practitioners like you. Verify everything and submit your feedback on the Domestic Violence Order (DVO) - Applicant Roadmap matter plan to improve the playbook. THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE, it's a request for input.
This legal matter plan provides a structured workflow for Family Law cases, outlining the standard DISPUTE_LITIGATION process. Utilize these tracking templates to manage your legal cases efficiently.
| Field | Token | Type | Required | Defined in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matter(4) | ||||
| Matter numberⓘ | matter.matterNumber | text | Required | inheritedmatter-core |
| Matter title | matter.title | text | - | inheritedmatter-core |
| Matter typeⓘ | matter.matterType | text | - | inheritedmatter-core |
| Matter status | matter.status | text | - | inheritedmatter-core |
| Client(1) | ||||
| Client name | matter.clientName | text | Required | inheritedmatter-core |
Assess immediate safety, verify identity, issue costs disclosure, and establish the statutory threshold for a DVO under the Act.
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Formalise instructions into sworn court forms, ensure mandatory statutory disclosures, and lodge documents with the Magistrates Court.
Secure interim protection (TPO) under section 47 and ensure the QPS formally serves the Respondent.
Present the matter to the court, determine the Respondent's stance (Consent, Adjourn, or Contest), and secure ongoing interim protections.
Compile admissible evidence strictly following the Magistrate's timetable, including subpoenas and formal affidavits.
Present your case at trial, cross-examine the Respondent, and obtain a Final Protection Order.
Finalise the matter by ensuring the client receives the sealed order, closing the file, and releasing funds from trust.