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
Gosford, NSW · Central Coast
Inner West Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Gosford, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Assault & Violent Offences.
Albury, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Legal Aid NSW provides legal services in Albury, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Health & Medical Practitioner Law and Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal.
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
Probe Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Sargeants provides conveyancing services in Korumburra, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Shepparton, VIC · Hume & North East
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Shepparton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Parenting & Child Custody.
Mitcham, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Wainwright Ryan Eid provides legal services in Mitcham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Building & Construction and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Warragul, VIC · Gippsland
Australian Red Cross provides legal services in Warragul, VIC. Listed practice areas include Military & Veterans Law, Health & Medical Practitioner Law and Partner & Family Visas.
Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
Bowen Lawyers provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
Claremont Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Traffic Offences.
Legal Aid NSW provides legal services in Broken Hill, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Health & Medical Practitioner Law and Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal.
Clarity Law provides legal services in Pialba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Assault & Violent Offences and Fraud & White Collar Crime.
Penshurst, NSW · Southern Sydney
Duncan & MacKenzie Solicitors provides legal services in Penshurst, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Education Law.
Malvern, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Lopes Family Law provides legal services in Malvern, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Rockhampton City, QLD · Central Queensland
Schroder Cam Lawyers provides legal services in Rockhampton City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Cooma, NSW · Snowy Monaro
Walker Gibbs & King provides legal services in Cooma, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Brookwater, QLD · Ipswich
Abledale Law provides legal services in Brookwater, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drug Offences and Bail Applications.
Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
Claremont Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Traffic Offences.
Wetherill Park, NSW · Western Sydney
Prestige Solicitors & Associates provides legal services in Wetherill Park, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Criminal Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Heidelberg, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Thompson Norrie Solicitors provides legal services in Heidelberg, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Surfers Paradise, QLD · Gold Coast
Abledale Law provides legal services in Surfers Paradise, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drug Offences and Bail Applications.
Frenchs Forest, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Divorce.com.au provides legal services in Frenchs Forest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Mount Waverley, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Hartleys Lawyers provides legal services in Mount Waverley, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Port Augusta, SA · Eyre, Yorke & Mid North
Legal Services Commission Elizabeth provides legal services in Port Augusta, SA. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Wills & Estates.
Chinchilla, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
P&E Law Pty Ltd provides legal services in Chinchilla, QLD. Listed practice areas include Planning & Environment, Agribusiness & Rural Law and Business & Commercial 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.