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
Neilson Law provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
Houston Defence Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Traffic Offences, Criminal Law and Drink & Drug Driving.
Zetland, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Inner West Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Zetland, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
Ballarat Lawyers provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Narre Warren, VIC · South East Melbourne
Silk Legal provides legal services in Narre Warren, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Parenting & Child Custody.
Berwick, VIC · South East Melbourne
We Care Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Berwick, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Engadine, NSW · Southern Sydney
Endeavour Conveyancing Services provides conveyancing services in Engadine, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Licensed Conveyancing (non-lawyer).
NSW · Mallee
MYRIALLAKIS AND ASSOCIATES PTY LTD provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
Pullos Lawyers provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
TASC Legal and Social Justice Service provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Elder Law & Aged Care.
Broadmeadows, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Dribbin & Brown Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Broadmeadows, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Drink & Drug Driving.
DSA Crime provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drug Offences and Assault & Violent Offences.
St Albans, VIC · Western Melbourne
Lanham Lawyers provides legal services in St Albans, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Wills & Estates.
C F Davies & Co provides legal services in Nowra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
WS Lawyers provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Child Protection & Care Matters, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Criminal Law.
Geelong West, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Cahill & Rowe Family Law provides legal services in Geelong West, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Kippa-ring, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Crew Legal provides legal services in Kippa-ring, QLD. Listed practice areas include Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP, Public Liability and Property & Conveyancing.
Legal Aid NSW provides legal services in Nowra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Health & Medical Practitioner Law and Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal.
Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
Dribbin & Brown Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Fraud & White Collar Crime and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Rowville, VIC · South East Melbourne
JH Legal provides legal services in Rowville, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Tamworth, NSW · New England & North West
Legal Aid NSW provides legal services in Tamworth, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Health & Medical Practitioner Law and Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal.
Ballarat East, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Ballarat East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Parenting & Child Custody.
Eatons Hill, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Davey Law provides legal services in Eatons Hill, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Property & Conveyancing.
Boorowa, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
Davis Faulkner & Co provides legal services in Boorowa, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
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.