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
Rockhampton City, QLD · Central Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Brooke Winter Solicitors provides legal services in Rockhampton City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Assault & Violent Offences.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Clarity Law provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Assault & Violent Offences and Fraud & White Collar Crime.
Criminal Law+7 moreAssault & Violent Offences · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Centrelink & Social Security · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Property & Conveyancing · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Business & Commercial LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Springwood, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Collaborative Legal Solutions provides legal services in Springwood, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Skilled & Business Visas and Wills & Estates.
Family Law+4 moreSkilled & Business Visas · Wills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Domestic Violence & AVOs
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cessnock, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hunter Domestic Violence Support and Advisory Services Inc provides legal services in Cessnock, NSW. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Business & Commercial Law and Partner & Family Visas.
Domestic Violence & AVOs+2 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Partner & Family VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ipswich Family Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Fraud & White Collar Crime
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Avondale Heights, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
MMH Lawyers provides legal services in Avondale Heights, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Criminal Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Domestic Violence & AVOsFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Senior Legal provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreFamily Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law · Business & Commercial Law · Immigration & Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Noosaville, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Coast to Coast Legal provides legal services in Noosaville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Coral Coast Law provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Assault & Violent Offences.
Drink & Drug Driving+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Assault & Violent Offences · Business & Commercial Law · Criminal Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Bail Applications · Fraud & White Collar Crime
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mirrabooka, WA · Perth North
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Encompass Legal and Community Services (formerly Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre) provides legal services in Mirrabooka, WA. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Immigration & Visas and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Partner & Family Visas+2 moreImmigration & Visas · Domestic Violence & AVOs
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Scarborough, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Lawrence Sinclair Lawyers provides legal services in Scarborough, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+6 moreWills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Probate & Estate Administration · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Employer Advisory & Industrial RelationsFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sale, VIC · Gippsland
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Littleton Hackford provides legal services in Sale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Criminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Reaston Drummond Law provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Family Property Settlement · Parenting & Child Custody · Binding Financial Agreements · Domestic Violence & AVOs
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Drouin, VIC · Gippsland
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Wakefield Lawyers provides legal services in Drouin, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Criminal Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Domestic Violence & AVOs
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Brown McComish Solicitors provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Personal Injury · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Domestic Violence & AVOs
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maryborough, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★2.7(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cate & Co Lawyers and Associates provides legal services in Maryborough, QLD. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Property & Conveyancing and Family Property Settlement.
Domestic Violence & AVOs+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Property Settlement · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Child Protection & Care Matters · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Wills & Estates · Commercial Property & Leasing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sunshine, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Emera Family Law Sunshine provides legal services in Sunshine, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Binding Financial Agreements · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Summer Hill, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hogg & Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Summer Hill, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Domestic Violence & AVOs · De Facto Relationships · Divorce & Separation · Family Property Settlement · Parenting & Child Custody · Mediation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
South Toowoomba, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ipswich Family Lawyers provides legal services in South Toowoomba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Fraud & White Collar Crime
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Byron Bay, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
S+P Lawyers provides legal services in Byron Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Partner & Family Visas.
Immigration & Visas+8 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Partner & Family Visas · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Planning & Environment · Bail Applications · Building & Construction · General Practice (regional generalist)
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.
