Co-parenting with your former spouse can be challenging even when you’re not faced with a global pandemic. The COVID-19 outbreak has caused many worried parents to reach out to us about the difficulty and uncertainty they are experiencing co-parenting during these unfamiliar times. Chances are your current parenting plan does not account for national emergencies such as this. With schools and a lot of businesses being closed, it has created schedule interruptions for most families. These uncertain times are also adding a signicifant amount of stress to children. It is critical to the well-being of your children (and your own sanity for that matter) that you work as well as possible with your former spouse during this time of crisis.
To assist you during these strange times, here are 4 tips on how to effectively co-parent during the COVID-19 crisis:
1. Follow the CDC Guidelines on COVID-19
This is critical to your own health and to that of your family. If you put your child at danger of being exposed to the corona virus during your timesharing, it could be used against you if your case ends up in front of the judge on a modification or contempt proceeding. So don’t host parties at your house when you should be practicing social distancing!
2. Communicate Honestly
You must communicate openly and honestly with your former spouse about your health. You must immeidately inform the other parent if you or your children are experiencing symptoms or you believe you have been exposed to someone with the corona virus. It is also a good idea to forego your timesharing if you are experiencing symptoms or you believe you have been exposed.
3. Be Flexible
Make sure you are flexible with your former spouse and work togehter to create a temporary modified schedule that best accommodates everyone involved. Although your current parenting plan remains unchanged by the Governor’s shelter-in-place order, the courts will expect parents to be flexible during this time. Make sure any modified timesharing schedule due to COVID-19 is in writing.
4. Don’t Use COVID-19 As an Excuse to Withhold Timesharing
The shelter-in-place order does mean you do not have to exchange your children for timesharing. The exception to this rule would be if, for example, you currently have a long-distance timesharing plan that would require travel to exchange the children. If so, make sure you offer your former spouse make-up timesharing when the travel restrictions imposed by the CDC and shelter-in-place order have been lifted. In the interim, do make sure you encourage more frequent phone calls and video chat with the other parent who is unable to exercise timesharing. Be mindful that withholding timesharing during this crisis without justification may result in contempt of court.
We are here to assist you with any timesharing or custody issues you are experiencing during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Please call to set up a consultation: (850) 432-2856.
