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
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
Howden Saggers Lawyers provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Coronial Inquests and Traffic Offences.
Bundaberg West, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Maloy Law provides legal services in Bundaberg West, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
South Coast Family Law Group provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
The Peoples Lawyers provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Criminal Law and Family Law.
Canberra, ACT · Canberra
Canberra Community Law provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Human Rights & Discrimination, Health & Medical Practitioner Law and Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal.
Coolangatta, QLD · Gold Coast
Palm Law Group provides legal services in Coolangatta, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Aitkenvale, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Rennick Lawyers provides legal services in Aitkenvale, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Criminal Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Footscray, VIC · Western Melbourne
Westjustice, Western Community Legal Centre provides legal services in Footscray, VIC. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Health & Medical Practitioner Law and Family Law.
East Toowoomba, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Bouchier Khan Lawyers provides legal services in East Toowoomba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Bail Applications, Fraud & White Collar Crime and Criminal Law.
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Geelong Conveyancing Services provides conveyancing services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Sunbury, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Wilkinson Lawyers provides legal services in Sunbury, VIC. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs and Criminal Law.
Belconnen, ACT · Canberra
Yellow Legal provides legal services in Belconnen, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Redcliffe, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Parker Family Law provides legal services in Redcliffe, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Warragul, VIC · Gippsland
Miceal Ambrose Lawyers provides legal services in Warragul, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Northcote, VIC · Northern Melbourne
VM Family Lawyers provides legal services in Northcote, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Noosaville, QLD · Sunshine Coast
BJH LAW PTY LTD provides legal services in Noosaville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Caloundra, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Ferrall & Co. Lawyers provides legal services in Caloundra, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Coffs Harbour, NSW · Mid North Coast
Legal Aid NSW provides legal services in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Partner & Family Visas.
Bundall, QLD · Gold Coast
Quinn Family Law provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Ruhl Family Law Centre provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Geelong Family Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Cleveland, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Pascoe Law provides legal services in Cleveland, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Bail Applications.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
James Dowsley & Associates provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Parenting & Child Custody.
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.