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
Warwick, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Skuse Graham Criminal Lawyers Warwick provides legal services in Warwick, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Starlight Legal (Chatswood) provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Immigration & Visas and Criminal Law.
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Townsville Lawyers provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Toowoomba City, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
VM Family Law provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
St Albans, VIC · Western Melbourne
Easy Link Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in St Albans, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Licensed Conveyancing (non-lawyer) and Business & Commercial Law.
Northcote, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Glenferrie Conveyancing Pty Ltd provides conveyancing services in Northcote, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Licensed Conveyancing (non-lawyer).
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Markotich Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Elwood, VIC · South East Melbourne
Make It Yours Conveyancing provides legal services in Elwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Partner & Family Visas.
Craigieburn, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Reliance Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Craigieburn, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
NSW · Western Sydney
Strictly Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Commercial Property & Leasing.
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
Blackridge Law provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Bail Applications, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Family Law.
Osborne Park, WA · Perth North
WN Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in Osborne Park, WA. Listed practice areas include Assault & Violent Offences, Criminal Law and Drink & Drug Driving.
Upper Coomera, QLD · Gold Coast
Jeff Horsey Solicitor provides legal services in Upper Coomera, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
Donnelly Law Group provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Bail Applications.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Kate Austin Family Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
Dribbin & Brown Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Drink & Drug Driving.
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
Inner West Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Assault & Violent Offences.
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
Port Augusta Magistrates Court provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Drug Offences.
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Malcomson Lawyers provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Streeton Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Werribee, VIC · Western Melbourne
Conveyancing Lab Pty Ltd provides conveyancing services in Werribee, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Planning & Environment and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
East Albury, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Shellie Graham Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in East Albury, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Strata & Body Corporate and Agribusiness & Rural Law.
Albury, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Shellie Graham Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Albury, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Strata & Body Corporate and Agribusiness & Rural Law.
Howlong, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Shellie Graham Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Howlong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Strata & Body Corporate and Agribusiness & Rural Law.
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.