This publication, divided into three parts, explores issues revolving around family violence and its effects on children in the abusing household. Part One reviews the psychological literature and studies that indicate that a child who lives in a home where acts of abuse occur is detrimentally affected by such abuse, whether the abuse is directly witnessed or not. Part Two sets forth the legal authority at the Federal and State levels, in court decisions, legislation, and policy statements, that encourage or mandate consideration of this abuse in making family law decisions. Part Three contains an excerpt from a law review article by Naomi R. Cahn which discusses the impediments to implementation of the laws presented in Part Two. An appendix contains a copy of House Concurrent Resolution 172, passed by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in 1990, which addressed the creation of a statutory presumption against placing a child in the custody of an abusive spouse when presented with credible evidence of spousal abuse. Footnotes