Coercive Control — Fixed Fee
$3,200 — Fixed Fee
Coercive control — initial advice and Magistrates Court stages — $3,200 fixed Covers : initial consultation, full review of the prosecution brief, advice on the elements and the evidence, bail condition advice, and representation at all Magistrates Court appearances through to committal. No hidden fees. One invoice. All fees +10% GST.
What Is Included
Initial consultation to review the charge, the alleged course of conduct, and the prosecution's brief Full review of the evidence — messages, financial records, call logs, location data, witness statements, and any other material in the brief Advice on the elements — whether the prosecution can establish the domestic relationship, the course of conduct, the specific intent to coerce or control, and the objective harm threshold Advice on whether the evidence supports the charge as laid, and whether there are grounds to contest any element Bail advice — coercive control is a show cause offence. Sacha advises on your conditions (no-contact, exclusion, reporting) and whether a variation application is appropriate Representation at all Magistrates Court appearances from first mention through to committal Advice on the restraining order risk under s 334E of the Criminal Code — including the fact that a restraining order can be made even on acquittal Post-committal advice on next steps and what to expect in the District Court Coercive control is a strictly indictable offence — it is always committed to the District Court for plea or trial. District Court representation is a separate engagement under separate fixed fees — District Court Plea (from $12,000) · District Court Trial (from $15,000) .
What You Are Facing
Coercive control became a standalone criminal offence in Queensland on 26 May 2025 under Chapter 29A of the Criminal Code Act 1899 (Qld). The offence — known as Hannah's Law — carries a maximum of 14 years imprisonment and is tried in the District Court before a jury. This is one of the most serious domestic violence offences on the statute book. The first person charged in Queensland was remanded in custody. It is a show cause offence — meaning the court starts from a position of custody and you must demonstrate why bail should be granted. The charge captures sustained patterns of behaviour — physical abuse, psychological and emotional abuse, economic abuse, surveillance, isolation, threats, and control of daily activities — that no single prior offence fully addressed. No single act needs to constitute an offence in itself. It is the cumulative pattern, directed by a specific intent to coerce or control, that makes the charge. For the full legal analysis of the offence, its elements, and defences, see the Coercive Control practice area page .
What Changes the Outcome
Whether the prosecution can establish specific intent. The prosecution must prove the accused intended the course of conduct as a whole to coerce or control — not just that each act occurred. Where the evidence shows individual incidents but does not establish the unifying controlling intent, the charge fails. Whether the conduct occurred after 26 May 2025. The offence is non-retrospective. Only conduct from the commencement date onwards can form part of the charge. Where the alleged course of conduct spans the commencement date, the timing of each act is a live question. Whether any conduct falls within the reasonable conduct defence. Section 334C(10) provides a defence where the accused can prove, on the balance of probabilities, that the course of conduct as a whole was reasonable in the context of the relationship. Section 334C(11) makes clear it is not enough that each individual act was reasonable in isolation. Bail conditions and compliance. No-contact conditions are standard. Strict compliance from the first appearance is essential — any breach will be relied on in subsequent bail and sentencing applications. Guilty plea credit. An early guilty plea carries a sentencing discount. Given the complexity and length of trial preparation for coercive control matters, the timing and terms of a plea are significant decisions. Prior domestic violence history. Any prior DV convictions, DVO breaches, or matters on record will be before the sentencing court and will directly affect the penalty range.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When did coercive control become a criminal offence in Queensland? The standalone criminal offence under s 334C of the Criminal Code Act 1899 (Qld) commenced on 26 May 2025. The offence does not apply to conduct that occurred before that date. Does the other person have to have been harmed? No. The prosecution needs to prove the course of conduct was reasonably likely to cause harm — not that harm actually occurred. For conduct involving surveillance or economic abuse, the other person does not even need to have been aware of it. Can I be charged with coercive control and other offences at the same time? Yes. Section 334C(6) expressly permits dual charging — the charge can be laid alongside assault, stalking, threats, and wilful damage arising from the same conduct. However, if convicted of both, the sentences are served concurrently. Is the charge tried before a judge and jury? Yes. Coercive control is a strictly indictable crime tried in the District Court before a jury. A guilty plea can be entered in the Magistrates Court and committed to the District Court for sentence. What is the restraining order risk? Under s 334E of the Criminal Code Act 1899 (Qld), a court can impose a restraining order on the hearing of a coercive control charge — including if the accused is acquitted or the prosecution does not proceed. The standard of proof for a restraining order is balance of probabilities, not beyond reasonable doubt.