Domestic violence lawyers help people seek protection orders, and act for people responding to applications.
firms
631
regions
16
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Each state has its own protection order scheme, called AVOs in NSW, intervention orders in Victoria, DVOs in Queensland and restraining orders in WA. Police can apply on your behalf, or you can apply yourself. A lawyer can explain the conditions, represent you at court and connect the order with any family law proceedings.
Why domestic violence & avos matters
Protection orders can stop threats, contact and harassment quickly. For respondents, an order can affect housing, parenting time, firearms licences and some jobs.
The Australian context
Each state has its own scheme: AVOs in NSW, intervention orders in Victoria, DVOs in Queensland, restraining orders in WA and SA. Orders are made in state local or magistrates courts and are nationally recognised under the National Domestic Violence Order Scheme.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(1,107)Google rating from 1,107 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Criminal Law Group provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Criminal Law+7 moreTraffic Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Assault & Violent Offences · Drink & Drug Driving · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Bail Applications · Building & ConstructionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Southbank, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(637)Google rating from 637 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
AB Morison Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Southbank, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Buying or Selling a Business and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreBuying or Selling a Business · Business & Commercial Law · Building & Construction · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Harris Park, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(582)Google rating from 582 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Oxford Legal Solicitors & Attorneys provides legal services in Harris Park, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Bail Applications.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(544)Google rating from 544 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Provey Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Planning & Environment and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 morePlanning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Building & Construction · Commercial Property & Leasing · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(457)Google rating from 457 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Genuine Legal Family Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(351)Google rating from 351 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Aston Legal Group provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+5 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas
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Pialba, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(349)Google rating from 349 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Geldard Sherrington Lawyers provides legal services in Pialba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Criminal Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hallam, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(334)Google rating from 334 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Jay & Co Barristers and Solicitors provides legal services in Hallam, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+4 moreCriminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Bail Applications · Child Protection & Care Matters
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
St Kilda, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(327)Google rating from 327 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
MK Law Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in St Kilda, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Fraud & White Collar Crime and Drug Offences.
Criminal Law+7 moreFraud & White Collar Crime · Drug Offences · Bail Applications · Drink & Drug Driving · Assault & Violent Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Centrelink & Social SecurityFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(324)Google rating from 324 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Blackwood Family Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(305)Google rating from 305 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Michael Dwyer Solicitor provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Business & Commercial LawFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Caboolture, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(256)Google rating from 256 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Murray Torcetti Lawyers provides legal services in Caboolture, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Assault & Violent Offences and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(245)Google rating from 245 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Brooke Winter Solicitors provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Assault & Violent Offences.
Criminal Law+7 moreDrink & Drug Driving · Assault & Violent Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Bail Applications · Family Law · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(235)Google rating from 235 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
ROBINSON LAW PTY LTD provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Drug Offences, Assault & Violent Offences and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Drug Offences+7 moreAssault & Violent Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Property & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Traffic Offences · Bail Applications · Fraud & White Collar Crime
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Queanbeyan, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(232)Google rating from 232 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
North Herring Lawyers provides legal services in Queanbeyan, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(230)Google rating from 230 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Collective Family Law Group provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Parenting & Child Custody · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(222)Google rating from 222 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
James & Jaramillo Lawyers Wollongong provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Assault & Violent Offences.
Family Law+7 moreCriminal Law · Assault & Violent Offences · Divorce & Separation · Bail Applications · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Traffic Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(214)Google rating from 214 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Perrella Legal provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Assault & Violent Offences, Fraud & White Collar Crime and Property & Conveyancing.
Assault & Violent Offences+7 moreFraud & White Collar Crime · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas · Criminal Law · Bail Applications · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Business & Commercial Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(213)Google rating from 213 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Morrison Graeme provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Partner & Family Visas and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Criminal Law+7 morePartner & Family Visas · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Drug Offences · Drink & Drug Driving · Assault & Violent Offences · Bail Applications · Traffic Offences
Understand the next step
A practical guide to domestic violence & avos
What to discuss at the first meeting
Tell the lawyer whether you need protection, have been served with an application or already have an order. Use a safe method of contact and make the next hearing date clear at the outset.
If someone is in immediate danger, call 000. A directory enquiry is not an emergency service or confirmation that representation has been arranged.
How the engagement may progress
01
Explain the relationship history, current arrangements and outcome you want. Identify immediate concerns and provide every existing order or agreement.
02
Discuss negotiation and family dispute resolution. Parenting applications generally involve prior dispute resolution unless an exception applies; ask the lawyer to assess the appropriate process.
03
Ask how an agreement would be documented and implemented. Clarify who handles related transfers, finance and estate-planning work.
Fees and the scope of work
Ask for separate estimates for advice, negotiation, document preparation and court work. A fixed divorce-application fee does not necessarily cover parenting or financial disputes.
Ask for a written scope identifying the work you are authorising, the person responsible and when costs will be reviewed. If you only want advice on one step, say so before the firm begins wider work.
Dates to raise at first contact
Highlight court dates, proposed travel or relocation and any planned property sale. Ask which time limits apply to your particular issues rather than assuming there is one deadline for everything.
Questions to ask a domestic violence & avos adviser
How can you contact me safely?
What does the current order require while advice is being arranged?
Will you handle parenting, property and divorce together or separately?
How will you communicate with me safely?
What would change the proposed approach or budget?
Directory guidance updated 19 September 2026. General information to help you prepare for a conversation with a professional; not advice about your individual matter. Check current requirements with the relevant authority.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is an AVO a criminal conviction?
No. A protection order is a civil order. Breaching it, however, is a criminal offence.
What if I'm in immediate danger?
Call 000. Police can make or seek urgent orders. For support, 1800RESPECT is available 24 hours.
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced?
Not always. A simple divorce application can be filed online without one. It's worth getting advice before you apply if you have children, shared property or superannuation, because divorce starts the clock on time limits for property claims.
How long do I have to settle property after separating?
Married couples generally have 12 months from the date the divorce becomes final. De facto couples generally have two years from separation. After that you need the court's permission, which is not guaranteed.
