NJ A3388

Courts may order professional domestic violence counseling for minor children when a final restraining order is issued, with the defendant potentially required to pay for and document these counseling costs

Establishes a legal presumption that both legal and physical custody of minor children shall be awarded to the non-abusive parent upon entry of a final restraining order

Victims may request that in subsequent child support proceedings, they not be required to be in the same room as the abuser, and the victim's and child's locations must be kept confidential

Requires courts to advise both victims and abusers of counseling services available for minor children when a domestic violence complaint is filed

Permits courts to order defendants to pay reimbursement for child counseling costs directly to the victim, to the Victims of Crime Compensation Office, or to other parties who compensated the victim, with payments prohibited from being made in person