Family & Relationships
Domestic violence lawyers help people seek protection orders, and act for people responding to applications.
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.
Domestic Violence & AVOs firms in the directory
631 firms
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
Hofstee Lawyers provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Mornington, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
AMT Legal provides legal services in Mornington, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Bendigo, VIC · Bendigo & Loddon
Fitzgerald Rayner Law provides legal services in Bendigo, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Wills & Estates.
Franklin, ACT · Canberra
Infinity Legal provides legal services in Franklin, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Parenting & Child Custody.
Cleveland, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
KC & Co Law provides legal services in Cleveland, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Criminal Law.
Broadmeadows, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Layal Legal provides legal services in Broadmeadows, VIC. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Criminal Law and Traffic Offences.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Pica Criminal Law Specialist provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Dawson Family Law provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Wagga Wagga, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Pennicott Weir Lawyers provides legal services in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Property & Conveyancing and Employer Advisory & Industrial Relations.
Dalby, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Skuse Graham Criminal Lawyers Warwick provides legal services in Dalby, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Port Augusta, SA · Eyre, Yorke & Mid North
Boylan Lawyers provides legal services in Port Augusta, SA. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Wills & Estates.
Black Rock, VIC · South East Melbourne
Burrell Family Law provides legal services in Black Rock, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Bundall, QLD · Gold Coast
Chancery Legal provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Building & Construction and Property & Conveyancing.
Werribee, VIC · Western Melbourne
Daniel Taylor Lawyers provides legal services in Werribee, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Joondalup, WA · Perth North
Encompass Legal and Community Services (formerly Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre) provides legal services in Joondalup, WA. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Immigration & Visas and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Bendigo, VIC · Bendigo & Loddon
Middlemis & Associates provides legal services in Bendigo, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Chermside, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Northside Family Law Centre provides legal services in Chermside, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Karratha, WA · Pilbara & Kimberley
Pilbara Community Legal Service Inc provides legal services in Karratha, WA. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Building & Construction and Business & Commercial Law.
Mackay, QLD · Mackay & Whitsundays
Reynolds Family Law provides legal services in Mackay, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Rockingham, WA · Perth South
Elite Family Law provides legal services in Rockingham, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Parenting & Child Custody.
Canberra, ACT · Canberra
Nicholls Anzani Family Lawyers provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Toowoomba City, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
PATTERSON & CO FAMILY LAW provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Business & Commercial Law.
Hadfield, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Resolve Legal provides legal services in Hadfield, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Cessnock, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Smyth Turner Wall provides legal services in Cessnock, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Powers of Attorney & Guardianship and Wills & Estates.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.