Domestic Abuse and not loosing everything?

I would ask another lawyers opinion. The $1200 a month should only ahve to be paid if he can prove that he can't work. If he doesn't have a job then he can't take care of the children so the custody would probably go to her and she wouldn't have to pay money. Are any of the children old enough to testify that they've seen the abuse? Even if not with their eyes then they still probably know.