Quick answer
Leaving can affect practical access, expenses, and parenting arrangements; it does not automatically answer who owns the home.
Do now
If unsafe, prioritize safety and obtain help. Otherwise review existing orders and get advice before making a major move. Make an inventory of belongings and preserve documents you lawfully possess. Plan children’s routines and housing costs.
Watch for
Do not change locks, remove shared property, or relocate children without considering orders and local law. Emergency safety choices and ordinary financial planning need different treatment.
Official sources
NJ Courts — Divorce, NY Courts — Matrimonial actions: automatic orders, DC Courts — Divorce, National Domestic Violence Hotline — Plan for Safety.