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.
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(48)Google rating from 48 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
James Dowsley & Associates provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Bail Applications.
Criminal Law+7 moreDrink & Drug Driving · Bail Applications · Assault & Violent Offences · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Traffic Offences · Coronial InquestsFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(46)Google rating from 46 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Davoren Associates provides legal services in Surfers Paradise, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Drink & Drug Driving · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Business & Commercial Law · Commercial Litigation · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(45)Google rating from 45 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ebejer & Associates Lawyers provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Probate & Estate Administration · Property & Conveyancing · Notary Public & JP Services · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts2 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: french
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(43)Google rating from 43 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Inner West Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Assault & Violent Offences.
Criminal Law+7 moreTraffic Offences · Assault & Violent Offences · Bail Applications · Drink & Drug Driving · Drug Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Fraud & White Collar CrimeFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(42)Google rating from 42 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bobby Locker provides legal services in The Entrance, NSW. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Criminal Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Drink & Drug Driving+3 moreCriminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Traffic Offences
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(39)Google rating from 39 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Schetzer Constantinou provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Domestic Violence & AVOs · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Binding Financial Agreements · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(37)Google rating from 37 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Inner West Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Assault & Violent Offences.
Criminal Law+7 moreTraffic Offences · Assault & Violent Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Drink & Drug Driving · Drug Offences · Bail Applications · Fraud & White Collar CrimeFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★3.8(37)Google rating from 37 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Morwell, 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
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(36)Google rating from 36 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Angela Ferdinandy provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Family Property Settlement and Property & Conveyancing.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(36)Google rating from 36 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
J P O'Neill provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Firearms & Licensing Matters and Property & Conveyancing.
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(36)Google rating from 36 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sayer Jones provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Property & Conveyancing · Surrogacy & Adoption · Domestic Violence & AVOs
★★★★★★★★★★3.3(36)Google rating from 36 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Geelong, 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
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(35)Google rating from 35 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hopper Mott Bunting Lawyers (Previously Hopper Green York) provides legal services in Capalaba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Elder Law & Aged Care · Assault & Violent Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cudmore Legal Family Lawyers Brisbane Co provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Parenting & Child Custody · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Prestige Solicitors & Associates provides legal services in Merrylands, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Criminal Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreCriminal Law · Business & Commercial Law · Notary Public & JP Services · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Immigration & Visas · Domestic Violence & AVOs
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bhardwaj and Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Immigration & Visas+4 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Criminal Law3 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: hindi, punjabi
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bhardwaj and Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Forest Lake, QLD. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Immigration & Visas+4 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Criminal Law3 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: hindi, punjabi
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bouchier Khan Lawyers provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Bail Applications, Fraud & White Collar Crime and Criminal Law.
Bail Applications+6 moreFraud & White Collar Crime · Criminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Coronial Inquests · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Brooke Winter Solicitors provides legal services in Hobart, TAS. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Criminal Law and Assault & Violent Offences.
Drink & Drug Driving+7 moreCriminal Law · Assault & Violent Offences · Traffic Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Bail Applications · Drug Offences · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Coastal Compensation Law Specialists provides legal services in Gosford, NSW. Listed practice areas include Workers Compensation, Personal Injury and Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP.
Workers Compensation+5 morePersonal Injury · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · TPD & Superannuation Claims · Public Liability · Domestic Violence & AVOsNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Nq Mobile Law Service provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Bail Applications.
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.
