In order to “assure the victims of domestic violence the maximum protection from abuse the law can provide,” the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act (PDVA), N.J.S.A. 2C: 25-18, must continually change with societal changes, such as blended families. So reasoned Judge Gregory Acquaviva in a thorough and timely PDVA jurisdictional decision. The court held that a half-brother, who resided with his mother after her divorce but had a substantial relationship with his half-sister, who resided with their father, was a member of both households. S.C. v. J.D., ____ N.J. Super. _____ (Ch. Div. 2019), 2019 WL 8648055.
Pursuant to a marital settlement agreement, incorporated into his parents’ judgment of divorce, Jake’s mother was awarded custody and Jake’s father was granted “free and liberal visitation … as often as possible”.
