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
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Loftgood Legal provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Criminal Law and Traffic Offences.
Wonthaggi, VIC · Gippsland
Wakefield Lawyers provides legal services in Wonthaggi, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Petrie Terrace, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Wickham Lawyers provides legal services in Petrie Terrace, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Coronial Inquests.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Inner West Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Assault & Violent Offences.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Mediation Australia - Brisbane provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Criminal Law and Traffic Offences.
Ringwood, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Dribbin & Brown Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Ringwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Drink & Drug Driving.
Aspley, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Cudmore Legal Family Lawyers Brisbane Co provides legal services in Aspley, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
Farquhar Ian R & Co provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Parenting & Child Custody.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Cudmore Legal Family Lawyers Brisbane Co provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Brisbane, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Caxton Community Legal Centre provides legal services in Brisbane, QLD. Listed practice areas include Human Rights & Discrimination, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Elder Law & Aged Care.
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Ben von Einem & Associates provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Dribbin & Brown Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Drink & Drug Driving.
North Lakes, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
ABA Family Lawyers provides legal services in North Lakes, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Gilshenan & Luton Legal Practice provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, Coronial Inquests and Criminal Law.
West Perth, WA · Perth CBD
Savannah Legal Barristers & Solicitors provides legal services in West Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Immigration & Visas.
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
M.A. Kent & Associates provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Criminal Law and Wills & Estates.
Woodend, VIC · Bendigo & Loddon
Steel Chinka (HEP) Lawyer provides legal services in Woodend, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
Just Family Law - Family Lawyers Dandenong provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
Mulcahy's Solicitors provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Bail Applications.
Brisbane Cbd, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Simonidis Steel provides legal services in Brisbane Cbd, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
Barsha Defence Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Bail Applications and Criminal Law.
Toowoomba City, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Wilsons - The Family Lawyers provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
Coleman Greig Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Hannay Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Assault & Violent Offences.
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.