Purpose <p>Domestic violence is a complex problem linked with a host of negative outcomes for parents and children; however, there is little research on the conditions of domestic violence among parents entering the child protective services system. The goals of this study were to examine what domestic violence looks like in the relationships of parents involved with child protective services, and how characteristics of violence shaped the amount of contact parents had with one another after child protective services became involved.</p> Methods <p>The study used statewide qualitative interview data with parents (<i>N</i> = 31 at Time 1 and <i>N</i> = 26 at Time 2, six months later) who had recently become involved with child protective services with substantiated cases that included domestic violence.</p> Results <p>The domestic violence experience can be categorized as intimate terrorism or situational couple violence and the context and type of domestic violence experienced were central to parents’ decisions about the future of their relationships with their partners.</p> Conclusions <p>Assessing the relationship goals of parents who enter the system due to domestic violence can guide interventions tailored to the needs and intended relationship goals of parents. Providing instrumental support to parents who wish to end relationships may help provide an exit strategy for parents who may not otherwise be able to leave relationships where domestic violence is present.</p>