What is a Peace and Good Behaviour Order?

Peace and Good Behaviour Orders are court orders.  You can apply for an order if you have a reasonable fear for your safety because you have been threatened or have had your property threatened by another person.

How do I obtain a Peace and Good Behaviour Order?

Forms are available from the Magistrates Court. There is a small cost for filing the form.

The completed forms need to be witnessed by a solicitor, barrister or Justice of the Peace and filed in the Magistrates Court, where the parties are given a date for the first hearing.

The other party will receive a notice to appear in Court and a copy of the complaint. It is up to you to arrange for these to be given to the other person.

At the first hearing, if the other party consents, the order can be made on that day.  Orders made by consent may be done on the basis of “no admissions”, which means that you do not admit that the plaintiff’s allegations are true, you just agree to be of good behaviour and any other orders made.

If there is no consent a further hearing date is set down where  both parties to give evidence and may bring witnesses.

As with Domestic Violence Protection Orders, to obtain orders, in essence, you will need to satisfy the court of two elements; i.e. did an act of violence, as deemed under the Act, occur and is it likely to occur again.

An order will usually last 12 months.

For more information: