What is the impact of family violence on parenting decisions?

In Peters v. Reginato, 2016 NSSC 345, this court held that family violence was a significant factor in determining the children’s best interests where the father was physically and emotionally abusive to the mother and where the father lacked insight and remorse. The father was ordered to participate in therapeutic counselling. Further, the mother’s obligation to communicate with the father would terminate if the father became aggressive, or abusive or used inappropriate language when speaking with the mother. The mother was granted final decision-making authority in the event the parties reached an impasse on parenting decisions.