How to Handle Child Visitations During the Coronavirus Pandemic?

This video features Chaim Steinberger, a Family Law attorney based in New York.

Attorney Chaim Steinberger | 888-981-0039 | Schedule Your Consult Today

Divorced parents: do you know how to handle child visitation rights during the coronavirus pandemic?

This Legal Brief features Chaim Steinberger, a family law attorney with Chaim Steinberger, P.C, based in New York. He explains that parents should not use this as an opportunity to deny the other parent access to their children.

To learn more, contact the attorney directly by calling 888-981-0039 or by submitting a contact form on this page.

Have a discussion with your co-parent regarding safety protocols for your child during the coronavirus pandemic.

It is important to keep your children safe during the coronavirus pandemic, and it is similarly important to account for the emotional/relational well-being of both parents struggling to figure out custody during this challenging time. While the issue of visitation during this pandemic presents significant challenges, it also presents a unique and valuable opportunity to improve communication with your co-parent, to come together and figure out how you can both put your child first.

Safety measures to protect a child from coronavirus should be followed across the board.

As a general rule and according to several court recommendations around the country, it is important that you maintain the same safety standards to protect your child across the board, not just in relation to the other parent. For example, if you are not allowing your child to interact with the other parent due to coronavirus safety concerns, are you also not permitting them to play with others who may have been exposed? If you have decided not to allow the other parent into your home, are you also not permitting other people to enter your home? Asking these questions makes it possible for both parents to understand what constitutes fair treatment for each other as they seek to keep themselves and their child safe.

Some states have included court-ordered parenting time in the “essential travel” category.

Some parents have wondered whether it’s okay to travel in order to see their child or to complete court-ordered visitation under the current travel restrictions. So far, court-ordered parenting time is considered “essential travel” and is not subject to current travel restrictions. That being said, it is important not to dismiss recommended safety measures from the United States government.

There will be an end to the coronavirus pandemic, and courts will not look kindly on parents who used it to inhibit their co-parent’s visitation rights.

It is important to remember that you will be held accountable after the pandemic for whatever actions were taken during the pandemic. This means if a parent denies their co-parent visitation on a unilateral or unreasonable basis, they may be subject to penalties when the pandemic is over. The goal for co-parenting during this time should be the child’s health and fair treatment for both parents above all and safety measures should only be taken with these goals in mind.

To learn more, contact Chaim Steinberger directly by calling 888-981-0039 or by submitting a contact form on this page.

Video Transcript:

How should divorced parents best handle visitation in the age of coronavirus?

I’m Rob Rosenthal and this is an AskTheLawyers.com Legal Brief.

As we all try to adjust to life during the COVID-19 pandemic, some divorced parents are using the situation to deny the other parent visitation with their children under the guise of protecting the children. New York City family law attorney Chaim Steinberger says of course, parents need to keep their children safe, but he adds:

“This is an opportunity to chart a new course with your co-parent to discuss ways to keep your children safe. Perhaps you could both agree on a reasonable protocol you would both adhere to, so that you each have the safety and comfort of reasonable protection while not depriving your children of the love, affection, and guidance of their other parent.”

He goes on to say:

“Who knows. This might set a whole new trajectory of being able to work things out when, perhaps earlier, the two of you were not able to.”

Attorney Steinberger also warns parents who use the coronavirus as an excuse to deny access to their children, that once the crisis passes, the courts will likely not look kindly upon those parents.
I’m Rob Rosenthal and this has been an AskTheLawyers.com Legal Brief.

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