Your Children Need Protection
Children who grow up watching adults act violently, may think that violence at home is normal, okay, or expected. If your children are also being abused, you should protect them. Child abuse is against the law. If you leave an abusive situation, you can still apply for custody of your children.

If you think your children will be safer with you, take them with you when you leave. Apply to the court immediately for a custody order. A lawyer can help you.

If you have a custody order, it is a good idea to keep a copy with you, in case there is a problem. You can also give copy to your children's school so that they are aware that you have custody, not your husband.

If you get custody of the children, their father will likely be able to visit them. Arrange for someone else to be there when the father picks up and returns the children. If you are worried about your children's safety, your lawyer can ask the court to order someone to supervise the visits.

Talk to your lawyer if you think the children's father will try to take them our the country. A court may order than the children's passports be kept by the court. If your children are Canadian citizens, call the Passport Office. Ask them to put the children's names on a list so you can be called if the father tries to get passports for them. If your children have another nationality, contact the embassy or consulate to ask then to refuse passports for your children.