I’m a retired N.H. family law attorney, and I studied DV extensively during the pandemic. The recent article on Marisol Fuentes entirely missed post-separation DV. In the courts it means lengthy litigation whether over property or children. The legislators are partly at fault. The assumption that parents are entitled to equal access to the children perpetuates the cycle of abuse. Statistically, if you attempt to protect your kids from an abuser, you are MORE likely to lose custody because it’s viewed as a tactic rather than the coercive control that is the abuse. The court becomes the new venue for the abuse.
The legislators are partly at fault. The assumption that parents – no matter how abusive – are entitled to equal access to the children perpetuates the cycle of abuse. Statistically, if you attempt to protect your kids from an abuser, you MORE likely to lose custody. Our definition of abuse under the DV statute is far too narrow.
Even without children involved, as was the case in Marisol Fuentes, she needed to be safe in a shelter. A piece of paper is clearly not adequate.
Paula Werme
Milford