Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) profoundly impacts family dynamics, often leaving enduring effects on co-parenting relationships, child well-being, and custody decision-making processes.

In the context of parenting plan evaluations, assessing the presence, severity, and implications of IPV is critical to developing plans that prioritize the safety and emotional health of children and survivors. This presentation will explore the intersection of IPV and parenting plan evaluations through a trauma-informed and evidence-based lens, with a focus on the unique challenges evaluators face across North America. Key topics will include:

Understanding IPV’s direct and indirect effects on children
Recognizing the manipulative behaviors of abusive partners during custody disputes
Addressing the nuanced safety concerns of survivors within shared parenting arrangements.

This session will also discuss the evaluator’s responsibility to differentiate between high-conflict dynamics and coercive control, ensuring that parenting plans do not inadvertently perpetuate harm.

Attendees will gain practical tools for conducting comprehensive evaluations that integrate IPV risk assessments, survivor perspectives, and child-centered approaches.

The presentation will highlight best practices for IPV-related parenting plan evaluations, drawing on North American case studies, research, and legal frameworks to provide actionable insights for professionals working in family law, mental health, and custody evaluation. By the end of the session, participants will better understand how to create parenting plans that uphold the safety, stability, and developmental needs of children while addressing the complexities of IPV in the family court context.