A.B. v. L.M.

The opinion of the court was delivered by

BAIME, J.A.D.

At issue in these consolidated appeals is whether a brief reconciliation of the parties automatically destroys the viability of a domestic violence restraining order entered pursuant to the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991 (N.J.S.A. 2C:25-17 to -33) (the Act). We hold that a final restraining order should not be set aside based upon the parties’ reconciliation or mutual *127violation without careful consideration by the court of the need for continued protection.

Although this litigation has a lengthy and tortured procedural history,…