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
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(50)Google rating from 50 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Nurture Law provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Clarity Law provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Assault & Violent Offences, Fraud & White Collar Crime and Criminal Law.
Assault & Violent Offences+7 moreFraud & White Collar Crime · Criminal Law · Centrelink & Social Security · Property & Conveyancing · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Bail ApplicationsFree first consult
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Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(47)Google rating from 47 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hannay Lawyers provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Assault & Violent Offences.
Criminal Law+7 moreDrink & Drug Driving · Assault & Violent Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Drug Offences · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Traffic Offences · Family LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.4 languages
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Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(47)Google rating from 47 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
My Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Criminal Law+7 moreBail Applications · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Assault & Violent Offences · Drink & Drug Driving · Property & ConveyancingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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East Toowoomba, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(46)Google rating from 46 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Skuse Graham Criminal Lawyers Warwick provides legal services in East Toowoomba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Criminal Law+6 moreTraffic Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Partner & Family Visas · Business & Commercial Law · Bail Applications · Planning & Environment
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North Fremantle, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(45)Google rating from 45 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Meillon & Bright Family Lawyers Fremantle provides legal services in North Fremantle, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Binding Financial Agreements.
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Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(45)Google rating from 45 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Olympus Lawyers provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Debt Recovery, Criminal Law and Family Law.
Debt Recovery+4 moreCriminal Law · Family Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Morwell, VIC · Gippsland
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(44)Google rating from 44 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Stephen Peterson Lawyers provides legal services in Morwell, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Criminal Law+5 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Child Protection & Care Matters · Traffic Offences · Administrative & Government Law · Business & Commercial Law
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West Footscray, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(43)Google rating from 43 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Singh & Co Lawyers provides legal services in West Footscray, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+3 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs
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Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(42)Google rating from 42 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Clements Fitzgerald Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Health & Medical Practitioner Law+7 moreFamily Law · Criminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Administrative & Government Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Morwell, VIC · Gippsland
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(42)Google rating from 42 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Daniel Taylor Lawyers provides legal services in Morwell, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(42)Google rating from 42 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Howden Saggers Lawyers provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Coronial Inquests and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Morwell, VIC · Gippsland
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(42)Google rating from 42 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Tyler Tipping and Woods provides legal services in Morwell, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Criminal Law
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Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(41)Google rating from 41 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Denise Dwyer Lawyers provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Powers of Attorney & Guardianship and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 morePowers of Attorney & Guardianship · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration · Criminal Law
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Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(41)Google rating from 41 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Montgomery Legal Practice Family Lawyer Liverpool provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(40)Google rating from 40 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Your Defence Advocates provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Traffic Offences, Assault & Violent Offences and Drug Offences.
Traffic Offences+7 moreAssault & Violent Offences · Drug Offences · Drink & Drug Driving · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Bail Applications · Criminal Law · Partner & Family VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Gympie, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(39)Google rating from 39 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Baldwins Lawyers provides legal services in Gympie, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & EstatesFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maryborough, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(39)Google rating from 39 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Change Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Maryborough, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Commercial Property & Leasing and NDIS & Disability Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreCommercial Property & Leasing · NDIS & Disability Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Elder Law & Aged Care · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment
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Heidelberg, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(38)Google rating from 38 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Rush Family Law provides legal services in Heidelberg, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(37)Google rating from 37 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Slink & Keating provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Child Protection & Care Matters.
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.
