There might be light at the end of the tunnel, but COVID-19 and all the devastation that comes with this nasty virus are still with us. COVID-19 has upended nearly every aspect of our lives. Co-parents have especially been thrown for a loop. Even in optimal circumstances, co-parenting with your ex-spouse or ex-partner is difficult. You’re more than capable of rising to the challenge, but a little help—like we’ve provided below—can make all the difference.
- Remember that a court order is still a court order. We completely understand if you’re having legitimate concerns about your ex’s potentially exposing your child to coronavirus if he or she isn’t being careful. It’s not wise to take things into your own hands, though, and refuse to give your child up for the other parent’s visitation time. A parenting plan is a court order, and it isn’t suspended in the event of a pandemic. You risk being in contempt of court if you refuse to abide by the parenting plan.
- Communicate (and communicate some more). Pandemic or not, your parenting plan will only work as well as you communicate with your ex. It’s always best to keep in constant communication about your kids’ schooling, health, and other important matters. Effective communication is even more essential during these strange times.
If you feel the other parent has an elevated chance of passing the virus to your child, open up a dialogue. You don’t want your child to be in charge of relaying information between you and the other parent. When there’s so much to discuss and coordinate, you could make use of certain apps designed to make co-parenting easier. McMahon Law Group recommends Our Family Wizard and Talking Parents, but there are many out there. - Consider a temporary change to your parenting plan. Having both you and your ex-spouse agree that a temporary change to the custody schedule is needed is a huge help. As long as you believe that your ex will adhere to new guidelines, you might be able to negotiate a new custody arrangement. If you have doubts about this, though, your attorney will be able to advise you on how to handle developing a temporary change. Regardless of the way you choose to go about this, it is best to have any new arrangements or agreements in writing.
Get a Family Law Firm Involved
Few things have the potential to result in emotionally charged, explosive situations like the issue of child custody. Despite you and your ex’s best efforts to be effective co-parents, the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have thrown a monkey wrench in your parenting plan. Even if you’re still able to continue following the parenting plan, you might have some reservations about business-as-normal.
That’s where a knowledgeable and experienced family law attorney can help. McMahon Law Group is here to help you work through many types of legal issues in an efficient and caring manner. Give our firm a call at 360-893-2527 to discuss your options.
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