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
Williams Landing, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(97)Google rating from 97 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
KPM Lawyers provides legal services in Williams Landing, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Criminal Law · Divorce & Separation · Wills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Domestic Violence & AVOs
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(94)Google rating from 94 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Carew Counsel Solicitors provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(89)Google rating from 89 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Australian Lawyers and Advocates provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Fraud & White Collar Crime.
Criminal Law+7 moreTraffic Offences · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Drink & Drug Driving · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Assault & Violent Offences · Family Law · Firearms & Licensing Matters
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Bundall, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(89)Google rating from 89 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Michelle Porcheron Lawyers provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Domestic Violence & AVOs
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Ballajura, WA · Perth North
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(87)Google rating from 87 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Advantage Settlements provides legal services in Ballajura, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Property Settlement and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreFamily Property Settlement · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Strata & Body Corporate · Business & Commercial Law
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Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(86)Google rating from 86 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Caldicott + Isaacs Lawyers provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Assault & Violent Offences, Drug Offences and Fraud & White Collar Crime.
Assault & Violent Offences+7 moreDrug Offences · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Criminal Law · Firearms & Licensing Matters · Drink & Drug Driving · Centrelink & Social SecurityFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Coburg, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(85)Google rating from 85 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Haitch Legal provides legal services in Coburg, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maryborough, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(84)Google rating from 84 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
John Willett Lawyers provides legal services in Maryborough, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+3 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(83)Google rating from 83 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
The Gold Coast Community Legal Centre provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal and Family Law.
Domestic Violence & AVOs+3 moreMental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Family Law · Health & Medical Practitioner Law
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Sunshine, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(79)Google rating from 79 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Marcou & Associates Family Lawyers provides legal services in Sunshine, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Highett, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(78)Google rating from 78 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
De Kretser Law provides legal services in Highett, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreWills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Criminal Law · Drug Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Contested Wills & Family Provision
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North Melbourne, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(78)Google rating from 78 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
McNally & Gleeson Lawyers provides legal services in North Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Bail Applications, Criminal Law and Fraud & White Collar Crime.
Bail Applications+6 moreCriminal Law · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Firearms & Licensing Matters · Traffic Offences · Drink & Drug Driving
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Glen Waverley, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(78)Google rating from 78 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Rayner Song Family Lawyers provides legal services in Glen Waverley, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and De Facto Relationships.
Family Law+7 moreBinding Financial Agreements · De Facto Relationships · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Domestic Violence & AVOs · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(76)Google rating from 76 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 Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(73)Google rating from 73 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Emera Family Law Sunshine provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
West Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(73)Google rating from 73 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hartleys Lawyers provides legal services in West Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Wills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Criminal Law · Skilled & Business VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Newport, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(73)Google rating from 73 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hartleys Lawyers provides legal services in Newport, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Wills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Criminal Law · Skilled & Business VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.4(73)Google rating from 73 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Parenting & Child Custody · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mount Gravatt, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(71)Google rating from 71 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ian W Bartels & Associates Solicitors provides legal services in Mount Gravatt, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Contract Law · Criminal Law · Divorce & Separation · Traffic Offences
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.
