Mr. Baer sums up my thoughts regarding the seeming increase in domestic violence in custody disputes. I am convinced that the adversarial litigation process for resolving family issues has contributed significantly to the level of hostility between parties. While some parties will be dangerously violent no matter what environment they are in, we can help reduce conflict in many cases as attorneys be referring folks to forms of alternate dispute resolution such as mediation or collaborative divorce. Even in a litigation context, attorneys should be careful not to “fan the flames” of the conflict. Much can be done to reduce the chances that a particular family will move into dangerous territory. Here’s Mr. Baer’s articles: