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.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(77)Google rating from 77 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Halyburton Legal provides legal services in Warners Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(72)Google rating from 72 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Springwood Lawyers provides legal services in Burleigh Heads, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(71)Google rating from 71 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Hannaway Lawyers provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(68)Google rating from 68 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mangan Ey & Associates provides legal services in Murray Bridge, SA. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Drink & Drug Driving.
★★★★★★★★★★3.6(68)Google rating from 68 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Traffic Offences · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(66)Google rating from 66 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Anderson Telford Lawyers provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Assault & Violent Offences and Fraud & White Collar Crime.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(66)Google rating from 66 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Dribbin & Brown Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Drink & Drug Driving.
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(62)Google rating from 62 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Alex Mandry Family Lawyers Sunshine Coast provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(62)Google rating from 62 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Brown & Baker Solicitors provides conveyancing services in Mackay, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Personal Injury.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Personal Injury · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Immigration & Visas · Domestic Violence & AVOs
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(62)Google rating from 62 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Gale Family Law provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(61)Google rating from 61 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
KLM Solicitors Brisbane City provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Family Property Settlement · Binding Financial Agreements · Divorce & Separation · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Property & Conveyancing
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(61)Google rating from 61 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
KLM Solicitors Brisbane City provides legal services in Aspley, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Family Property Settlement · Binding Financial Agreements · Divorce & Separation · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Property & Conveyancing
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(61)Google rating from 61 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Legal Aid NSW provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Health & Medical Practitioner Law and Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal.
Immigration & Visas+6 moreHealth & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Partner & Family Visas · Planning & Environment · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Centrelink & Social Security
Macquarie Park, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(61)Google rating from 61 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Versfeld & Hugo provides legal services in Macquarie Park, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Citizenship and Business & Commercial Law.
Immigration & Visas+5 moreCitizenship · Business & Commercial Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Partner & Family Visas · Sports & Entertainment LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Andrew Douglas Solicitors provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Building & Construction · Business & Commercial LawFree first consult
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Pippa Colman Family Law provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
★★★★★★★★★★3.4(58)Google rating from 58 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Men's Legal Service provides legal services in Underwood, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Partner & Family Visas and Not-for-Profit & Charity Law.
Family Law+4 morePartner & Family Visas · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law · Parenting & Child Custody · Domestic Violence & AVOs
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(58)Google rating from 58 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Ringwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Parenting & Child Custody · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Mediation & Dispute Resolution10 languages
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(56)Google rating from 56 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Shamac Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate AdministrationFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(54)Google rating from 54 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Macarthur Legal Service provides legal services in Campbelltown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Partner & Family Visas and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Domestic Violence & AVOs+3 morePartner & Family Visas · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Family Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(50)Google rating from 50 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Wallace O'Hagan Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Criminal Law and Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal.
Domestic Violence & AVOs+7 moreCriminal Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Coronial Inquests · Traffic Offences · Drink & Drug Driving · Partner & Family Visas
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.
