Family & Relationships · Gold Coast
39 domestic violence & avos firms in Gold Coast, Queensland, including Southport, Surfers Paradise, Robina, Coolangatta.
39 firms
Burleigh Heads, QLD · Gold Coast
Springwood Lawyers provides legal services in Burleigh Heads, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
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.
Protection orders can stop threats, contact and harassment quickly. For respondents, an order can affect housing, parenting time, firearms licences and some jobs.
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.
Understand the next step
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.
Southport, Surfers Paradise, Robina and Coolangatta offer different starting points for a Gold Coast search. A matter involving Tweed Heads or a NSW asset should be identified as cross-border from the first enquiry.
For domestic violence & avos, ask which parts of the work the firm handles itself and whether it has relevant QLD experience. Let the lawyer know if a property, employer, other party or existing proceeding is outside Gold Coast. Your home address alone does not determine the applicable process.
Explain the relationship history, current arrangements and outcome you want. Identify immediate concerns and provide every existing order or agreement.
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.
Ask how an agreement would be documented and implemented. Clarify who handles related transfers, finance and estate-planning 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.
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.
In Queensland, most matters start in the Magistrates Court, with serious criminal and larger civil matters in the District and Supreme Courts. Tenancy, minor civil, building and guardianship disputes go to QCAT. Solicitors hold practising certificates from the Queensland Law Society, and complaints are handled by the Legal Services Commission.
Good to know
No. A protection order is a civil order. Breaching it, however, is a criminal offence.
Call 000. Police can make or seek urgent orders. For support, 1800RESPECT is available 24 hours.
Most matters start in the Magistrates Court. More serious cases go to the District Court or the Supreme Court of Queensland. Family law matters are heard by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Surfers Paradise, QLD · Gold Coast
Davoren Associates provides legal services in Surfers Paradise, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
Cudmore Legal Family Lawyers Brisbane Co provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
Bhardwaj and Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Neilson Law provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
Pullos Lawyers provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Carrara, QLD · Gold Coast
Lockett McCullough Lawyers Noosa provides legal services in Carrara, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
Carew Lawyers provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Hope Island, QLD · Gold Coast
Stacks Law Firm Tweed Heads provides legal services in Hope Island, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Surfers Paradise, QLD · Gold Coast
Abledale Law provides legal services in Surfers Paradise, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drug Offences and Bail Applications.
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
Potts Bill provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Criminal Law and Traffic Offences.
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
Reardon Family Lawyers provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Parenting & Child Custody.
Bundall, QLD · Gold Coast
Stacks Law Firm Bundall provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Traffic Offences and Business & Commercial Law.
Beaudesert, QLD · Gold Coast
Tamborine Mountain Law provides legal services in Beaudesert, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Criminal Law and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Tamborine Mountain, QLD · Gold Coast
Tamborine Mountain Law provides legal services in Tamborine Mountain, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Criminal Law and Child Protection & Care Matters.
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.
Practising certificates in Queensland are managed by the Queensland Law Society. You can check a solicitor's status on its public register or by contacting it directly.