Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008

i Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 TABLE OF PROVISIONS Rule Page ORDER 1 1 PRELIMINARY 1 PART 1—GENERAL 1 1.01 Object 1 1.02 Authorising provisions 1 1.03 Commencement 1 1.04 Revocation 1 PART 2—INTERPRETATION 2 1.05 Definitions 2 PART 3—APPLICATION OF RULES 2 1.06 Definitions 2 1.07 Application 3 1.08 Former Rules continue to apply 3 PART 4—MISCELLANEOUS 3 1.09 Legal representation 3 1.10 Filing of documents 4 1.11 Seal of the Court 4 ORDER 2 6 NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULES 6 2.01 Effect of non-compliance 6 2.02 Dispensing with compliance 6 -- 1 of 46 -- Rule Page ii ORDER 3 7 TIME, SITTINGS, COURT OFFICE AND DOCUMENTS 7 3.01 Court may fix time 7 3.02 Content and form of documents 7 3.03 Registrar refusing to accept documents 7 3.04 Scandalous matter 8 ORDER 4 9 PROCESS IN THE COURT 9 PART 1—POLICE PROTECTION BEFORE COURT 9 4.01 Application to extend direction or detention 9 4.02 Process for filing family violence safety notices 10 PART 2—APPLICATIONS FOR FAMILY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION ORDERS 10 4.03 Application for a family violence intervention order 10 4.04 Application for associated final order 12 4.05 Application for variation, revocation or extension of a family violence intervention order 14 4.06 Form of consent 15 PART 3—MISCELLANEOUS 16 4.07 Request for further and better particulars of application 16 4.08 Withdrawal of applications 16 ORDER 5 18 SERVICE 18 5.01 Process if Court required to give documents to a person 18 5.02 Certificate of service 18 5.03 Inability to serve 19 5.04 Certificates may be filed by facsimile 20 5.05 Applications for substituted service 20 5.06 Service interstate 20 5.07 Service in New Zealand 20 ORDER 6 21 STAY OF PROCEEDING 21 6.01 Stay of proceeding 21 6.02 Striking out proceeding 21 -- 2 of 46 -- Rule Page iii ORDER 7 22 WITNESS SUMMONSES 22 7.01 Attendance by summons 22 7.02 Address of summons 23 7.03 Service 23 7.04 Conduct money 24 7.05 Setting aside 24 7.06 Production before date of attendance 24 ORDER 8 25 AFFIDAVITS 25 8.01 Form of affidavit 25 8.02 Affidavit by illiterate, blind or incapacitated person 26 8.03 Content of affidavit 26 8.04 Affidavit by two or more deponents 26 8.05 Alterations 27 8.06 Annexures and exhibits 27 8.07 Irregularity 27 8.08 Filing and service of affidavits 27 8.09 Service of affidavits if party is unrepresented 28 8.10 Affidavit sworn before party 28 ORDER 9 29 EXPERT EVIDENCE 29 9.01 Statement or report of expert to be filed 29 9.02 Service of statement or report 30 9.03 Service of statement or report on unrepresented party 30 9.04 Putting statement or report filed by other party in evidence 30 ORDER 10 31 HEARINGS 31 10.01 Order of hearing 31 10.02 No addresses 31 10.03 Absence of party 31 10.04 Alternative arrangements for giving evidence 31 ORDER 11 33 ORDERS 33 11.01 Certified extracts 33 -- 3 of 46 -- Rule Page iv ORDER 12 34 VENUE AND TRANSFER OF PROCEEDINGS 34 12.01 Venue of Court 34 12.02 Place of hearing of application 34 12.03 Venue of Court for applications under Part 11 of the Act 35 ORDER 13 36 REHEARINGS 36 13.01 Application for rehearing 36 13.02 Form of application 36 13.03 Rehearing date 36 ORDER 14 37 APPEALS 37 14.01 Particulars to be included in notice of appeal 37 14.02 Stay of relevant decision 38 ORDER 15 39 MISCELLANEOUS 39 15.01 Risk assessments 39 15.02 Service and Execution of Process Rules 39 15.03 General power of amendment 40 15.04 Directions 40 ═══════════════ ENDNOTES 42 -- 4 of 46 -- 1 STATUTORY RULES 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 Magistrates' Court Act 1989 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 The Chief Magistrate together with 2 Deputy Chief Magistrates jointly make the following Rules: ORDER 1 PRELIMINARY PART 1—GENERAL 1.01 Object The object of these Rules is to make rules of procedure for proceedings in the Magistrates' Court of Victoria under the Family Violence Protection Act 2008. 1.02 Authorising provisions These Rules are made under section 209 of the Family Violence Protection Act 2008, and under sections 16(1D) and (1E) of the Magistrates' Court Act 1989, and all other enabling powers. 1.03 Commencement These Rules come into operation on 8 December 2008. 1.04 Revocation The Magistrates' Court (Family Violence) Rules 2000 1 are revoked. -- 5 of 46 -- Order 1 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 2 PART 2—INTERPRETATION 1.05 Definitions In these Rules, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires— barrister means a barrister as defined in the Legal Profession Act 2004; proceeding, unless the contrary intention appears, means any matter in the Court commenced by application under the Family Violence Protection Act 2008; risk assessment means the summary relating to an affected family member's or protected person's risk of family violence prepared under the Common Risk Assessment and Risk Management Framework; solicitor means an Australian lawyer as defined in the Legal Profession Act 2004, other than a barrister as defined in that Act, and includes an incorporated legal practice as defined in that Act; the Act means the Family Violence Protection Act 2008. PART 3—APPLICATION OF RULES 1.06 Definitions In this Part— commencement date means 8 December 2008; former Rules means— (a) the Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 1999 as in force before the commencement of the Act; and r. 1.05 -- 6 of 46 -- Order 1 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 3 (b) the Magistrates' Court (Family Violence) Rules 2000 as in force before the commencement of the Act; pending proceeding means a complaint or application referred to in section 218(1) of the Act. 1.07 Application (1) These Rules apply to every proceeding commenced under the Act in the Court on or after the commencement date. (2) These Rules apply, so far as applicable and with any necessary modification, to every appeal commenced under Division 9 of Part 4 of the Act on or after the commencement date. (3) These Rules apply, with any necessary modification, to a pending proceeding and anything required or permitted to be done under these Rules with respect to a proceeding commenced on or after the commencement date may be done in a pending proceeding. 1.08 Former Rules continue to apply Despite Rule 1.04, the former Rules continue to apply to the following as if the Magistrates' Court (Family Violence) Rules 2000 had not been revoked— (a) proceedings referred to in section 219(1)(a) of the Act; (b) an appeal referred to in section 219(1)(b) of the Act. PART 4—MISCELLANEOUS 1.09 Legal representation (1) Subject to the Act, a party may appear in person or with legal representation. r. 1.07 -- 7 of 46 -- Order 1 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 4 (2) If a party obtains legal representation— (a) the representative must as soon as practicable notify the Court that he or she represents that party; and (b) the representative must inform the court as soon as practicable if he or she ceases to represent the party. (3) A notification to the Court under subrule (2)(a) must— (a) specify whether the legal representative is a solicitor or a barrister; and (b) provide the legal representative's address, telephone number, fax number and email address. 1.10 Filing of documents Except where otherwise provided by these Rules or unless the Court otherwise orders, a document is filed by being lodged with the registrar in the office of the Court at the proper venue of the Court. Note Proper venue is defined in section 3(1) of the Magistrates' Court Act 1989. 1.11 Seal of the Court (1) The principal registrar and every registrar must each have in his or her custody a stamp in a design that is as near as practicable the same as the design of the seal of the Court with the addition of, in the case of— (a) the principal registrar, the words "Principal Registrar"; (b) a registrar, the word "Registrar". r. 1.10 -- 8 of 46 -- Order 1 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 5 (2) Marking a document or a copy of a document with a stamp referred to in subrule (1) is sufficient compliance with any requirements of these Rules or an order of the Court that the document or copy be sealed with the seal of the Court. __________________ r. 1.11 -- 9 of 46 -- Order 2 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 6 ORDER 2 NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULES 2.01 Effect of non-compliance (1) A failure to comply with these Rules is an irregularity and does not render a proceeding or a step taken, or any document or order therein a nullity. (2) If there has been a failure to comply with these Rules, the Court may exercise its powers under these Rules to allow amendments and to make orders dealing with the proceeding generally. 2.02 Dispensing with compliance Subject to the Act, the Court may dispense with compliance with any of the requirements of these Rules, either before or after the occasion for compliance arises. __________________ r. 2.01 -- 10 of 46 -- Order 3 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 7 ORDER 3 TIME, SITTINGS, COURT OFFICE AND DOCUMENTS 3.01 Court may fix time If no time is fixed by the Act or these Rules for doing any act in a proceeding, the Court may fix a time. 3.02 Content and form of documents (1) The Court may require any document in a proceeding to be prepared in any manner it thinks fit. (2) If a document for use in the Court is not prepared in accordance with these Rules or any order of the Court— (a) the registrar may refuse to accept it for filing without the direction of the Court; or (b) the Court may order that the party responsible is not entitled to rely on it in any manner in the proceeding until a document which is properly prepared is filed. 3.03 Registrar refusing to accept documents (1) A registrar may refuse to accept a document if the registrar considers that the form or contents of the document show that the document, if accepted, would be an abuse of the process of the Court. (2) The Court may direct the registrar to accept a document for filing. r. 3.01 -- 11 of 46 -- Order 3 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 8 3.04 Scandalous matter If a document for use in the Court contains scandalous, irrelevant or otherwise oppressive matter, the Court may order— (a) that the offending matter be deleted; or (b) if the document has been filed, that it be taken off the file. __________________ r. 3.04 -- 12 of 46 -- Order 4 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 9 ORDER 4 PROCESS IN THE COURT PART 1—POLICE PROTECTION BEFORE COURT 4.01 Application to extend direction or detention For the purposes of an application under section 19 or 20 of the Act, the following particulars are prescribed— (a) the name, rank, number and station of the police officer making the application; (b) the name, date of birth and gender of the person who has been directed or detained; (c) the name, rank, number and station of the police officer who issued the direction; (d) the time, date and place that the direction was issued; (e) the grounds for issuing the direction; (f) if the person has been detained— (i) whether the person refused or failed to comply with the direction; and (ii) the time and date that the person was apprehended and detained; (g) the location of the person who has been directed or detained; (h) the time and date of making the application; (i) the duration of the direction or detention at the time of making the application; (j) the proposed period of the extension; (k) the grounds for making the application. r. 4.01 -- 13 of 46 -- Order 4 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 10 4.02 Process for filing family violence safety notices (1) For the purposes of section 34(c) of the Act, a copy of the form or safety notice form (the original form) must be filed with the Court as soon as practicable. (2) The station of the police officer who made the application must retain the original form for 28 days after filing it with the Court. Note Rule 12.01(3) requires a family violence safety notice to be filed by facsimile transmission. PART 2—APPLICATIONS FOR FAMILY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION ORDERS 4.03 Application for a family violence intervention order (1) For the purposes of an application for a family violence intervention order under section 43 or 44 of the Act, the following information is prescribed— (a) the name of the applicant; (b) the capacity in which the applicant applies; (c) the name and date of birth of each affected family member; (d) if the applicant is not the affected family member— (i) whether the affected family member consents to the making of the application; or (ii) if the affected family member is a child, whether a parent of the child consents to the making of the application; or r. 4.02 -- 14 of 46 -- Order 4 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 11 (iii) if the affected family member has a guardian, whether the guardian consents to the making of the application; (e) whether the applicant requires leave of the Court to make the application; (f) the name, date of birth and address of the respondent; (g) the relationship between the respondent and the affected family member; (h) the reasons for seeking the order; (i) the nature of the family violence alleged; (j) the conditions on the order sought; (k) whether a warrant is sought for the arrest of the respondent; (l) details of any relevant Family Law Act order or child protection order, or any current application for a relevant Family Law Act order or child protection order; (m) details of any previous application or order made, or family violence safety notice issued under the Act; (n) whether the respondent holds— (i) a firearms authority; or (ii) a weapons approval; or (iii) a weapons exemption; (o) whether an affected family member or the respondent has a disability; (p) whether an affected family member or the respondent is of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. r. 4.03 -- 15 of 46 -- Order 4 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 12 (2) If the applicant seeks a warrant for the respondent's arrest, the application must set out the reasons why a warrant is sought. 4.04 Application for associated final order (1) An application for an associated final order under section 76 of the Act must include the following— (a) the name of the applicant; (b) the capacity in which the applicant applies; (c) the names of the parties to the application for the original family violence intervention order, or the original order (as the case requires); (d) the court reference number for the original application, or the date of the final order (as the case requires); (e) the reasons for seeking the order; (f) the conditions of the order sought; (g) details of any relevant Family Law Act order or child protection order, or any current application for a relevant Family Law Act order or child protection order. (2) If the application is for an associated final order against an additional respondent, the application must also— (a) give the name, date of birth and address of the additional respondent; and (b) set out how the additional respondent is an associate of the respondent; and r. 4.04 -- 16 of 46 -- Order 4 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 13 (c) if the applicant is not the protected person, state— (i) whether the protected person consents to the making of the application; or (ii) if the protected person is a child, whether a parent of the child consents to the making of the application; or (iii) if the protected person has a guardian, whether the guardian consents to the making of the application. (3) If the application is for an associated final order to protect an additional applicant, the application must also— (a) state the name and date of birth of each additional applicant; and (b) set out how each additional applicant is an associate of the protected person; and (c) if the applicant for the associated final order is not the additional applicant— (i) whether the additional applicant consents to the making of the application; or (ii) if the additional applicant is a child, whether a parent of the child consents to the making of the application; or (iii) if the additional applicant has a guardian, whether the guardian consents to the making of the application. r. 4.04 -- 17 of 46 -- Order 4 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 14 4.05 Application for variation, revocation or extension of a family violence intervention order (1) For the purposes of sections 100 and 106 of the Act, an application for a variation, revocation or extension of a family violence intervention order must include the following particulars— (a) the names of the parties to the proceeding in which the order was made; (b) the name of the applicant for the variation, revocation or extension; (c) the capacity in which the applicant applies; (d) if the protected person is not the applicant— (i) whether the protected person consents to the making of the application; or (ii) if the protected person is a child, whether a parent of the child consents to the making of the application; or (iii) if the protected person has a guardian, whether the guardian consents to the making of the application; (e) whether the applicant requires leave of the Court to make the application; (f) the date of making the family violence intervention order; (g) whether any other persons have become family members of the respondent since the family violence intervention order was made; (h) the reasons for seeking a variation, revocation or extension; (i) details of any relevant Family Law Act order or child protection order, or any current application for a relevant Family Law Act order or child protection order; r. 4.05 -- 18 of 46 -- Order 4 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 15 (j) if the application is for a variation, the conditions of the variation sought; (k) if the application is for an extension, the duration of the extension sought. (2) If the respondent applies for the variation or revocation of the family violence intervention order, the application must also set out any change in circumstances since the family violence intervention order was made. 4.06 Form of consent (1) This Rule applies to an application for a family violence intervention order, or an application to vary revoke or extend an order if— (a) a person is required under section 45, 76 or 108 of the Act to give written consent to the making of the application; or (b) the person making the application is a police officer, unless the affected family member or protected person is— (i) a child; or (ii) cognitively impaired. (2) The consent must include the following particulars— (a) the name, address, date of birth, occupation and gender of the person who will make the application; (b) if the person who will make the application is a police officer, the police officer's rank, number and station; (c) the name, address, date of birth, occupation and gender of the person providing the consent; r. 4.06 -- 19 of 46 -- Order 4 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 16 (d) if the person providing the consent is not the affected family member or protected person, that person's relationship to the affected family member or protected person; (e) a description of the application. (3) A consent under subrule (2) must be filed with the Court. PART 3—MISCELLANEOUS 4.07 Request for further and better particulars of application (1) A party may only seek further and better particulars of an application with leave of the Court. (2) If the Court decides to grant leave, the Court— (a) must fix a time for the further and better particulars to be provided; and (b) may give directions it considers appropriate for seeking and providing particulars, including— (i) limiting the particulars that may be sought; and (ii) directing how particulars are to be provided. Example The Court may direct that a party provide particulars in the form of a letter, or by affidavit. 4.08 Withdrawal of applications (1) An application under the Act may be withdrawn only with the leave of the Court. r. 4.07 -- 20 of 46 -- Order 4 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 17 (2) A party seeking to withdraw an application must— (a) file a written notice of withdrawal, to be served on the respondent by the registrar; or (b) if the person attends court, make an oral application to the Court. __________________ r. 4.08 -- 21 of 46 -- Order 5 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 18 ORDER 5 SERVICE 5.01 Process if Court required to give documents to a person If under the Act or these Rules, the Court is required to give any notice or other document to any person, the Court may do so— (a) by leaving the document at the address of the person; or (b) by posting the document to the person at that person's address; or (c) if a person has a facility for the reception of documents by facsimile transmission, by transmitting the document to that facility; or (d) if the person is a respondent who has provided an email address under section 85(1) of the Act, by sending the document to that email address. Note Section 85 of the Act allows a respondent who has been excluded from a residence to give an email address as an address for service. This only applies to documents not requiring personal service. 5.02 Certificate of service (1) For the purposes of section 203 of the Act, a certificate of service must— (a) include a statement about the date, time and place the document was served; and (b) include a statement about the manner of service; and (c) specify each document served; and r. 5.01 -- 22 of 46 -- Order 5 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 19 (d) indicate whether the certificate has been made on oath, by affidavit or is certified. (2) A certificate of service must be filed as soon as practicable after service of the document to which it relates. 5.03 Inability to serve (1) For the purposes of section 204 of the Act, the certificate must— (a) be made on oath or by affidavit, or certified; and (b) include the following particulars— (i) if the person completing the certificate is a police officer, the police officer's name, rank and station; (ii) if the person completing the certificate is an appropriate registrar, the appropriate registrar's name and the location of the court; (iii) the reasons it has not been possible to serve the document, including details of attempts to locate or serve the person; (iv) the means that the person completing the certificate believes could be used to bring the document to be served to the person's attention, and the reasons for that belief; and (c) specify each document that was to be served. (2) For the purposes of subrule (1)(a), the certificate may be certified only if it is completed by a police officer or appropriate registrar. r. 5.03 -- 23 of 46 -- Order 5 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 20 5.04 Certificates may be filed by facsimile A certificate completed under Rule 5.02 or 5.03 may be filed with the registrar by facsimile transmission. 5.05 Applications for substituted service Unless the Court otherwise orders, an application for substituted service does not need to be conducted in open court. 5.06 Service interstate If a document is required under the Act to be served on a respondent interstate, the document must be served personally. 5.07 Service in New Zealand If a document is required under the Act to be served on a respondent in New Zealand, the document must be served personally. __________________ r. 5.04 -- 24 of 46 -- Order 6 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 21 ORDER 6 STAY OF PROCEEDING 6.01 Stay of proceeding If a proceeding is scandalous, frivolous or vexatious or is otherwise an abuse of the process of the Court, the Court may, on the application of a respondent, stay the proceeding. 6.02 Striking out proceeding If a proceeding— (a) is scandalous, frivolous or vexatious; or (b) may prejudice, embarrass or delay the fair hearing of the proceeding; or (c) is otherwise an abuse of the process of the Court— the Court may order that the whole or part of the application be struck out or amended. __________________ r. 6.01 -- 25 of 46 -- Order 7 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 22 ORDER 7 WITNESS SUMMONSES 7.01 Attendance by summons (1) A party may by witness summons require a person to attend at the hearing of the proceeding for the purpose of giving evidence or of producing any document or thing or for both purposes. (2) A witness summons must include the following particulars— (a) the names of the parties to the proceeding; (b) the name and address of the witness; (c) the nature of the application to which the hearing relates; (d) the venue and address of the Court that the witness must attend; (e) the time and date that the witness must attend; (f) the name of the person filing the summons, and details of that person's legal representative (if applicable); (g) a statement that if the witness does not comply with the summons, he or she may be arrested. (3) If the witness summons is for production of documents or things, it must also include the following— (a) a statement that the witness may produce the documents or things to the Court 2 days before the first date on which the witness is required to attend before the hearing date; r. 7.01 -- 26 of 46 -- Order 7 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 23 (b) a description of the documents or things required to be produced; (c) information about the production of subpoenaed documents. (4) If under the Act a party requires leave of the Court to require a person to attend, the witness summons must— (a) specify that leave has been granted; and (b) be accompanied by a copy of the order, or extract of order, granting that leave. (5) An order by witness summons for the attendance of a person in a proceeding is taken to be made on the signing of the witness summons by a registrar. 7.02 Address of summons (1) A witness summons requiring a person to attend for the purpose of giving evidence may be addressed to any number of persons. (2) A witness summons requiring the production of a document or thing must be addressed to one person, except in the case of a partnership where all the members of a firm may be addressed in the witness summons. 7.03 Service (1) A witness summons must be served personally on the person to whom it is addressed. (2) Despite subrule (1), if the witness summons is addressed to a corporation, service may be effected by serving the summons personally on one of the following persons— (a) the mayor, chairman, president or other head officer of the corporation; r. 7.02 -- 27 of 46 -- Order 7 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 24 (b) the town clerk, clerk, treasurer, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the corporation. 7.04 Conduct money A person to whom a witness summons is addressed is excused from complying with the summons unless conduct money, sufficient to meet the person's reasonable expenses of complying, is given or tendered to that person at— (a) the time of service of the witness summons; or (b) a reasonable time before the day the witness is required to attend in answer to the summons. 7.05 Setting aside The Court may set aside a witness summons either wholly or in part. 7.06 Production before date of attendance (1) If a witness summons requires production of a document or thing before the Court or an officer of the Court, the person to whom the summons is addressed may instead produce the document or thing to the registrar by hand or by post, unless the Court otherwise orders. (2) A document or thing produced by hand or by post must be received by the registrar not later than 2 days before the day that the witness summons requires the document or thing to be produced. (3) This Rule does not apply to so much of a witness summons as requires a person to attend for the purpose of giving evidence. __________________ r. 7.04 -- 28 of 46 -- Order 8 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 25 ORDER 8 AFFIDAVITS 8.01 Form of affidavit (1) An affidavit must be made in the first person. (2) An affidavit must state the place of residence of the deponent and his or her occupation or, if he or she has none, his or her description. (3) Despite subrule (2), an affidavit does not have to state the deponent's place of residence if the deponent believes that it would jeopardise his or her safety to do so. (4) An affidavit must be divided into paragraphs numbered consecutively, each paragraph being as far as possible confined to a distinct portion of the subject. (5) Every affidavit must be signed by the deponent, except as provided by Rule 8.02(1), and the jurat must be completed and signed by the person before whom it is sworn. (6) Each page of an affidavit must be signed by the person before whom it is sworn. (7) The first page of an affidavit must be headed immediately beneath the title of the proceeding with the name of the deponent and the date of swearing. (8) An affidavit must on the outside identify the party on whose behalf it is filed and state the name of the deponent and the date of swearing. r. 8.01 -- 29 of 46 -- Order 8 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 26 8.02 Affidavit by illiterate, blind or incapacitated person (1) If it appears to the person before whom an affidavit is sworn that the deponent is illiterate, blind or physically incapacitated he or she must certify in or below the jurat that— (a) the affidavit was read in his or her presence to the deponent; and (b) the deponent seemed to him or her to understand it; and (c) the deponent made his or her signature or mark in the person's presence. (2) If an affidavit is made by an illiterate, blind or physically incapacitated deponent and a certificate in accordance with subrule (1) does not appear on the affidavit, it may not be used in evidence unless the Court is satisfied that the affidavit was read to the deponent and that the deponent seemed perfectly to understand it. 8.03 Content of affidavit In an application in a proceeding an affidavit may contain a statement of fact based on information and belief if the grounds are set out in the affidavit. 8.04 Affidavit by two or more deponents If an affidavit is made by 2 or more deponents, the names of the persons making the affidavit must be inserted in the jurat, except that, if the affidavit is sworn by both or all the deponents at one time before the same person, it is sufficient to state that it is sworn by "each of the abovenamed" deponents. r. 8.02 -- 30 of 46 -- Order 8 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 27 8.05 Alterations Any interlineation, erasure or other alteration in the jurat or body of an affidavit must be initialled by the person before whom it is sworn. 8.06 Annexures and exhibits (1) A document referred to in an affidavit must not be annexed to the affidavit but may be referred to as an exhibit. (2) An exhibit to an affidavit must be identified by a separate certificate annexed to it bearing the same title as the affidavit and signed by the person before whom the affidavit is sworn. 8.07 Irregularity Notwithstanding any irregularity in form an affidavit may— (a) unless the Court otherwise orders, be filed; (b) with the leave of the Court, be used in evidence. 8.08 Filing and service of affidavits (1) An affidavit must be filed. (2) The affidavit must be served on the following persons— (a) the applicant or respondent (as the case requires); (b) an adult affected family member or protected person; (c) if the application to which the proceeding relates was made with the consent of a parent or guardian, that parent or guardian. (3) An affidavit must not be served on a child (other than a child who is an applicant or respondent) without leave of the Court. r. 8.05 -- 31 of 46 -- Order 8 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 28 (4) An affidavit must be served in a manner set out in Rule 5.01(b), (c) or (d). 8.09 Service of affidavits if party is unrepresented The registrar must serve an affidavit on a party who does not have legal representation. 8.10 Affidavit sworn before party A party must not use in evidence on the party's behalf an affidavit sworn before— (a) a party; or (b) an employee of a party. __________________ r. 8.09 -- 32 of 46 -- Order 9 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 29 ORDER 9 EXPERT EVIDENCE 9.01 Statement or report of expert to be filed (1) A party who intends at the hearing to adduce the evidence of a person as an expert witness must, at least 5 working days before the date of the hearing at which the evidence is intended to be adduced, file— (a) a statement in accordance with subrule (2); or (b) a copy of a report in accordance with subrule (3). (2) The statement must— (a) give the name and professional address of the witness, unless the witness believes that disclosing his or her address would jeopardise his or her safety; and (b) describe the qualifications to give evidence as an expert; and (c) give the substance of the evidence it is proposed to adduce from the witness as an expert. (3) The report must— (a) give the name of the witness; and (b) describe the qualifications to give evidence as an expert. (4) A party who has not filed a statement or a copy of a report under subrule (1) must not adduce any evidence from a witness as an expert at the hearing of a proceeding unless— r. 9.01 -- 33 of 46 -- Order 9 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 30 (a) the Court grants leave; or (b) the other parties consent; or (c) the evidence is adduced in cross- examination. 9.02 Service of statement or report (1) A statement or copy of a report must be served on the following persons— (a) the applicant or respondent (as the case requires); (b) an adult affected family member or protected person; (c) if the application to which the proceeding relates was made with the consent of a parent or guardian, that parent or guardian. (2) A statement or copy of a report must not be served on a child (other than a child who is an applicant or respondent) without leave of the Court. (3) A statement or copy of a report must be served in a manner set out in Rule 5.01(b), (c) or (d). 9.03 Service of statement or report on unrepresented party The registrar must serve a statement or copy of a report on a party who does not have legal representation. 9.04 Putting statement or report filed by other party in evidence A party to a proceeding may put in evidence a statement or copy of a report filed by another party in accordance with Rule 9.01. __________________ r. 9.02 -- 34 of 46 -- Order 10 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 31 ORDER 10 HEARINGS 10.01 Order of hearing The Court may give directions as to the order of evidence and generally as to the conduct of the hearing of a proceeding. 10.02 No addresses Unless the Court otherwise orders, no opening or closing addresses may be made at the hearing of any proceeding. 10.03 Absence of party (1) If, when the hearing of a proceeding is called on, any party is absent, the Court may— (a) proceed with the hearing; or (b) strike out or dismiss the application; or (c) adjourn the hearing; or (d) make any other order which the Court considers appropriate. (2) If the absent party is a respondent who has failed to appear on bail, the Court may also issue a warrant for the arrest of the respondent. 10.04 Alternative arrangements for giving evidence (1) This Rule applies if a party wishes to use alternative arrangements for giving evidence referred to in section 69(1)(a) or (b) of the Act. (2) A party may apply to use alternative arrangements for giving evidence by notifying the Court in writing before the hearing. r. 10.01 -- 35 of 46 -- Order 10 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 32 (3) A notification under subrule (2) must set out— (a) the reason the witness needs alternative arrangements for giving evidence; and (b) the alternative arrangements sought. (4) Despite subrule (2), if the party has not notified the Court, the Court may direct that alternative arrangements be made if they are available on the day of hearing at that venue of the court. __________________ r. 10.04 -- 36 of 46 -- Order 11 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 33 ORDER 11 ORDERS 11.01 Certified extracts (1) A certified extract from the Court record of any order is sufficient for any purpose for which an order is required. (2) The Court may order, on its own motion or on the application of a party, that a certified extract must not include information that would jeopardise the safety of a party or any other person. (3) In making an order under subrule (2), the Court may be constituted by a registrar. (4) If a person is not satisfied with the decision of the Court constituted by a registrar, the person may seek leave to refer the matter to the Court for decision. __________________ r. 11.01 -- 37 of 46 -- Order 12 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 34 ORDER 12 VENUE AND TRANSFER OF PROCEEDINGS 12.01 Venue of Court (1) An application under the Act must be made by filing the application at the proper venue of the Court. (2) Filing must be effected by— (a) filing in the office of the Court at that venue; or (b) facsimile transmission to the Magistrates' Court of Victoria After Hours Service in the case of an application made under section 20 or 44 of the Act. (3) In the case of a family violence safety notice— (a) the copy of the form or safety notice form must be filed by facsimile transmission to the Magistrates' Court of Victoria After Hours Service; and (b) the location for the first mention must be the proper venue of the Court. Note Proper venue is defined in section 3(1) of the Magistrates' Court Act 1989. 12.02 Place of hearing of application (1) A proceeding under the Act must be heard at the venue of the Court stated on the application, unless the Court orders otherwise. (2) The Court may adjourn the hearing of a proceeding to another venue of the Court if it is satisfied that the interests of justice so require. r. 12.01 -- 38 of 46 -- Order 12 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 35 (3) In making a decision under subrule (2), the Court must have regard to the matters listed under paragraph (da) of the definition of proper venue in the Magistrates' Court Act 1989. 12.03 Venue of Court for applications under Part 11 of the Act (1) An application to have a person declared a vexatious litigant must be filed— (a) if the person to be declared vexatious is a party in proceedings currently before the Court, at the venue for those proceedings; or (b) in any other case, at the venue of the Court that made the most recent order to which the person to be declared vexatious is a party. (2) An application by a vexatious litigant under section 194(1) of the Act must be filed at the venue of the Court that made the order declaring the person to be vexatious. __________________ r. 12.03 -- 39 of 46 -- Order 13 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 36 ORDER 13 REHEARINGS 13.01 Application for rehearing (1) A relevant person (within the meaning of section 122 of the Act) may make an application for rehearing under section 122 of the Act by filing the application at the venue of the Court where the order sought to be set aside was made. (2) The registrar must— (a) list the application for hearing; and (b) serve a copy of the application and affidavit in support on the other parties to the proceeding. (3) If the application for rehearing is struck out because the relevant person failed to appear at the time fixed for hearing of the application, any further application for rehearing is taken to be an application for leave to reapply under section 122(4) of the Act. 13.02 Form of application An application under Rule 13.01 must be supported by an affidavit. 13.03 Rehearing date If the Court sets aside an order the proceeding must be reheard on a date fixed by the Court. __________________ r. 13.01 -- 40 of 46 -- Order 14 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 37 ORDER 14 APPEALS 14.01 Particulars to be included in notice of appeal A notice of appeal must include the following information— (a) the name and address of the appellant; (b) the names and addresses of the other parties to the proceeding in which the relevant decision was made; (c) if the appeal relates to a family violence intervention order for a protected person who is a child— (i) if the application for the order was made with the consent of a parent, the name and address of that parent; (ii) if the child did not consent to the order, the name and address of a parent of the child (other than the respondent) with whom the child normally or regularly resides; (d) if the appeal relates to a family violence intervention order for a protected person who has a guardian, the name and address of the guardian; (e) the venue of the Court that made the relevant decision and the date of the relevant decision; (f) the nature of the relevant decision; (g) whether a counselling order was made; (h) a brief description of the grounds of appeal. r. 14.01 -- 41 of 46 -- Order 14 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 38 14.02 Stay of relevant decision (1) An application under section 117 of the Act to stay the operation of a relevant decision— (a) must be filed; and (b) may be served by the registrar on the persons listed in paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of rule 14.01. (2) If there are exceptional circumstances, the Court may grant a stay without serving the application on any other person. __________________ r. 14.02 -- 42 of 46 -- Order 15 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 39 ORDER 15 MISCELLANEOUS 15.01 Risk assessments A risk assessment is confidential and must not be— (a) used in evidence in any proceeding; or (b) disclosed to the respondent or an associate of the respondent to the proceeding to which the risk assessment relates. 15.02 Service and Execution of Process Rules If a process is being served under Division 1 of Part 2 of the Service and Execution Process Act 1992 of the Commonwealth, the notice that is to be attached to the document under section 16 of that Act must include the following particulars— (a) the name, date of birth and gender of the respondent to the application; (b) a description of the application; (c) the name, address and phone number of the issuing Court; (d) the following statements— (i) the person served must read the notice and attached document very carefully, and that if he or she has trouble understanding the notice or document, he or she should seek legal advice as soon as possible; (ii) the service of the process out of Victoria is authorised by the Service and Execution of Process Act 1992 of the Commonwealth; r. 15.01 -- 43 of 46 -- Order 15 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 40 (iii) if a court of a State or Territory other than Victoria is the appropriate Court to determine the application, the person served may be able to have the proceeding stayed by applying to the Magistrates' Court of Victoria; (iv) if the person served thinks the proceeding should be stayed or transferred, he or she should get legal advice as soon as possible; (v) if the person served wishes to contest the application he or she should attend court on the date in the application, or make arrangements for a legal representative to appear on his or her behalf. 15.03 General power of amendment For the purpose of determining the real question in issue between the parties to any proceeding, or of correcting any defect or error in any proceeding, or of avoiding multiplicity of proceedings, the Court may at any stage order that any document (including an application) in a proceeding be amended or that any party have leave to amend any document in the proceeding. 15.04 Directions At any stage of a proceeding the Court may give any direction for the conduct of the proceeding which it thinks conducive to its effective, complete, prompt and economical determination. r. 15.03 -- 44 of 46 -- Order 15 Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 41 Dated: 4 December 2008 IAN GRAY, Chief Magistrate LANCE MARTIN, Deputy Chief Magistrate PETER LAURITSEN, Deputy Chief Magistrate ═══════════════ r. 15.04 -- 45 of 46 -- Magistrates' Court (Family Violence Protection) Rules 2008 S.R. No. 157/2008 42 ENDNOTES 1 Rule 1.04: S.R. No. 73/2000 as amended by S.R. No. 83/2006. Endnotes -- 46 of 46 --