Quick answer
Include children’s immediate safety and emotional needs in the response.
Do now
Obtain emergency and medical help where necessary. Ask an advocate about child-appropriate safety planning and a lawyer about custody and protection-order provisions. Preserve school or healthcare observations through appropriate channels.
Watch for
Do not ask children to intervene, collect evidence, carry adult messages, or rehearse testimony. Existing parenting orders may need urgent court attention; they do not disappear automatically after an incident.
Official sources
National Domestic Violence Hotline — Plan for Safety, NJ Courts — Domestic Violence, NY Courts — Domestic Violence / Family Offense, DC Courts — Domestic Violence Division.