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
Gympie, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Smith Criminal Law Sunshine Coast provides legal services in Gympie, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Drug Offences.
East Victoria Park, WA · Perth East
Aboriginal Family Law Services provides legal services in East Victoria Park, WA. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Child Protection & Care Matters and Family Law.
Gordon, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Alexander DW & Co provides legal services in Gordon, NSW. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Building & Construction and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Forster, NSW · Mid North Coast
All About Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Forster, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Commercial Property & Leasing and Agribusiness & Rural Law.
Thuringowa Central, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Anderson Telford Lawyers provides legal services in Thuringowa Central, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Assault & Violent Offences and Fraud & White Collar Crime.
Nambour, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Andrew Douglas Solicitors provides legal services in Nambour, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Murray Bridge East, SA · Riverland & Murraylands
Anglican Community Care Inc provides legal services in Murray Bridge East, SA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Partner & Family Visas and Agribusiness & Rural Law.
Deakin, ACT · Canberra
Australian Rural Health Education Network provides legal services in Deakin, ACT. Listed practice areas include Agribusiness & Rural Law, Health & Medical Practitioner Law and Elder Law & Aged Care.
Two Rocks, WA · Perth North
Avenue Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Two Rocks, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Property Settlement and Strata & Body Corporate.
Bassendean, WA · Perth East
Bassendean Settlements provides legal services in Bassendean, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Strata & Body Corporate and Building & Construction.
Surry Hills, NSW · Sydney CBD
Benjamin & Leonardo Criminal Defence Lawyers provides legal services in Surry Hills, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Darwin Cbd, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
Bowen Lawyers provides legal services in Darwin Cbd, NT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Brisbane City Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Armadale, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Burke & Associates Solicitors provides legal services in Armadale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Binding Financial Agreements.
Cairns, QLD · Cairns & Far North
Civic Law Pty Ltd provides legal services in Cairns, QLD. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Bail Applications and Assault & Violent Offences.
Harris Park, NSW · Western Sydney
CPC Lawyers provides legal services in Harris Park, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Drink & Drug Driving.
Lowood, QLD · Ipswich
David Grant & Associates provides legal services in Lowood, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Norwest, NSW · Hills District
Divorce.com.au provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Canberra City, ACT · Canberra
Divorce.com.au provides legal services in Canberra City, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
Divorce.com.au provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Erina, NSW · Central Coast
Divorce.com.au provides legal services in Erina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Divorce.com.au provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Collingwood, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria provides legal services in Collingwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Building & Construction and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Dribbin & Brown Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Drink & Drug Driving.
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.