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
Pakenham, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(71)Google rating from 71 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mepstead Lawyers provides legal services in Pakenham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Criminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Probate & Estate AdministrationFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(69)Google rating from 69 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Michael Lynch Family Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Domestic Violence & AVOs · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Mandurah, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(68)Google rating from 68 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Coastal Family Law provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Doncaster East, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(66)Google rating from 66 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Goodwill Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Doncaster East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Building & Construction and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
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Bundall, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(66)Google rating from 66 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hey Family Law provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Gladstone Central, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(65)Google rating from 65 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Byrne Lawyers provides legal services in Gladstone Central, QLD. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(65)Google rating from 65 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Wollongong Criminal Law provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drug Offences and Assault & Violent Offences.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Miranda, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(64)Google rating from 64 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
ELITE DEFENCE LAWYERS provides legal services in Miranda, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Assault & Violent Offences.
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Toowoomba City, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(63)Google rating from 63 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
ReesLaw Pty Ltd provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Birtinya, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(62)Google rating from 62 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
CHOMLEY FAMILY LAW provides legal services in Birtinya, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and International Family Law & Hague Abduction.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Property & Conveyancing · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation
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Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(62)Google rating from 62 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Legal Aid NSW provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Partner & Family Visas.
Immigration & Visas+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Partner & Family Visas · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Planning & Environment · Bail Applications · Building & Construction
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Newcastle, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(61)Google rating from 61 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Conditsis Lawyers Newcastle provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Criminal Law+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Drug Offences · Divorce & Separation · Assault & Violent Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Drink & Drug DrivingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(59)Google rating from 59 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Banditt & Blaine Lawyers provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Partner & Family Visas.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Planning & Environment
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Sunshine North, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(59)Google rating from 59 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Sunshine North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Traffic Offences · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Beenleigh, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(58)Google rating from 58 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Transitional Legal provides legal services in Beenleigh, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(56)Google rating from 56 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Brisbane Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Assault & Violent Offences.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Toowoomba City, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(56)Google rating from 56 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
TASC Legal and Social Justice Service provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Elder Law & Aged Care.
Health & Medical Practitioner Law+6 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Elder Law & Aged Care · Criminal Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Family Law · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(55)Google rating from 55 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Collective Family Law Group provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Broadmeadows, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.1(53)Google rating from 53 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Broadmeadows, 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
Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(51)Google rating from 51 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
McMahon Criminal Defence Lawyers provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drug Offences and Assault & Violent Offences.
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.
