Domestic Violence Restraining Orders: The Impact on Custody, Co-Parenting, and C

Domestic Violence Restraining Orders carry immediate and profound consequences in family law proceedings, particularly where custody is at issue. This presentation examines the evolving role of DVROs in custody disputes, with a focus on what happens after the order is issued or denied. Hon. Joshua Wayser (Los Angeles Superior Court), Michael B. Hanasab of Jamra, Jamra & Hanasab LLP, and Robin Sax, J.D., LCSW, of the Law Offices of Robin Sax lead the discussion. Drawing from the perspectives of the bench, legal practitioners, and mental health professionals, the panel will explore how DVRO findings, whether substantiated, contested, or strategically pursued, can shape custody outcomes, influence co-parenting dynamics, and set the trajectory for the case moving forward.

While recognizing the critical importance of DVROs as a protective tool in cases involving genuine abuse, this program also addresses the complex realities courts face when allegations intersect with custody litigation. Topics will include the legal and practical implications of the "rebuttable presumption" against custody, the impact of resist/refuse dynamics on children, and the ways in which DVRO proceedings can either clarify or complicate underlying family conflict.