I agree, document EVERYTHING…my ex was the same way. When I left and didn’t return at his demand, he threatened to file kidnapping charges against me if I didn’t let him come and take our two daughters. He said he didn’t give a f***if I came back, he just wanted the kids back…right. It was all a ploy to get me alone with him again so he could continue to control me-he knew I wouldn’t let him take the kids without me tagging along-and if I had, things would have been worse and more violent than they had been before I left…if/when you leave, do not contact him and ignore any and all contact FROM him…he’ll be sugary gooey sweet, and he’ll make you think he’s changed and that he loves you, but the truth is that abusers don’t know how to love-they only know how to control and lie, and destroy. Don’t fall for it-don’t even engage in dialogue with him after you leave. You’ll be safer and will heal faster and more effectively.I kept a journal of some of the incidents, of the violence and the manipulation and the name-calling, and have begun posting some of those blogs here. Your case in court will be a lot easier to prove if you have documentation…but, Lord, do not let him find it. jerzey, the women commenting on here were once where you are now-we were ALL victims of all types domestic violence, and we all thought our situation was hopeless and destitute, we’ve all heard the name-calling and experienced the destruction of our lives as we knew it: our independence, our family/friends, our sense of self-worth, our finances…one piece at a time. But look at us now-each of us at a different point in the healing process-but we all SURVIVED. you CAN do this, and you DO deserve better!