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.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(135)Google rating from 135 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Faraj Defence Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Assault & Violent Offences and Drug Offences.
Criminal Law+7 moreAssault & Violent Offences · Drug Offences · Drink & Drug Driving · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Fraud & White Collar CrimeFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(135)Google rating from 135 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Unite Legal provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Criminal Law
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Brighton, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(133)Google rating from 133 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
A. Shenken & Co provides legal services in Brighton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Binding Financial Agreements.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(128)Google rating from 128 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Seitz & Pepper Family Lawyers Frankston provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(124)Google rating from 124 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Rana Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Assault & Violent Offences.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mulgrave, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(121)Google rating from 121 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Eminent Lawyers provides legal services in Mulgrave, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Immigration & Visas · Probate & Estate Administration · Criminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs
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Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(119)Google rating from 119 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Fisher Dore Lawyers - Cairns provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drug Offences and Assault & Violent Offences.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Traralgon, VIC · Gippsland
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(118)Google rating from 118 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Pace & Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Traralgon, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
West Moonah, TAS · Hobart & South
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(115)Google rating from 115 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Buttar Immigration Consultants Pty Ltd provides legal services in West Moonah, TAS. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Registered Migration Agent (non-lawyer) and Skilled & Business Visas.
Immigration & Visas+7 moreRegistered Migration Agent (non-lawyer) · Skilled & Business Visas · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law · Citizenship · Partner & Family Visas · Domestic Violence & AVOs
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Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(115)Google rating from 115 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Potts Bill provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Albert Park, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(111)Google rating from 111 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Turnkey Conveyancing & Matt Behan Legal Services provides conveyancing services in Albert Park, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Partner & Family Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+3 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Partner & Family Visas · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wallabi Point, NSW · Mid North Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(104)Google rating from 104 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
All About Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Wallabi Point, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Commercial Property & Leasing and Agribusiness & Rural Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(104)Google rating from 104 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Hanna Legal provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Assault & Violent Offences.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hamilton, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(104)Google rating from 104 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Newcastle Legal provides legal services in Hamilton, NSW. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Partner & Family Visas+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Assault & Violent Offences · Contested Wills & Family Provision
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Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(103)Google rating from 103 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Brett Smith & Co Solicitors provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+4 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(102)Google rating from 102 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Smith Criminal Law Sunshine Coast provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Traffic Offences, Criminal Law and Drug Offences.
Traffic Offences+7 moreCriminal Law · Drug Offences · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Assault & Violent Offences · Family Law · Drink & Drug Driving · Domestic Violence & AVOs
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(99)Google rating from 99 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Melbourne Law Offices provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Immigration & Visas.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Immigration & Visas · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Class Actions · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(98)Google rating from 98 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Freedom Family Law provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mawson Lakes, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(97)Google rating from 97 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Conveyancing Solutions SA Pty Ltd provides conveyancing services in Mawson Lakes, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Banking & Finance.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Banking & Finance · Commercial Property & Leasing · Building & Construction · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Planning & Environment · Buying or Selling a Business
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mackay, QLD · Mackay & Whitsundays
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(97)Google rating from 97 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Harvey Legal provides legal services in Mackay, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Criminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Commercial Litigation · Business & Commercial Law
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.
