Establishes rebuttable presumption against granting child custody under certain circumstances; expands best interests factors; adds coercive control to domestic violence definition.

New Jersey bill A 854 would change how courts handle child custody cases involving domestic violence. It creates a rebuttable presumption against granting custody or visitation rights to a parent if there's clear evidence of domestic violence - including coercive control (a pattern of controlling behavior) - or if a child or parent reasonably fears imminent danger from the other parent. The bill expands the list of factors courts must consider, requiring them to specifically state why they're overriding this presumption. This directly affects parents in custody disputes where domestic violence is alleged and ensures courts prioritize child safety by making it harder to grant custody without addressing safety concerns.