Should I send my kids for visitation during the pandemic? I’ve written a bit on this before, but it was early on in the pandemic. It feels like eons ago to me now; the shock of actually facing a pandemic – which, to me, still sounds a bit like an actual plague – was surreal. When the schools were closing, back before the stay at home order was originally issued, it seemed like a fluke. A blip on the radar before things would go back to normal. Of course, I’ve always done what I was supposed … [Read more...]
Can he tell me I can’t take the kids?
Can he tell me I can’t take the kids? We’re seeing a LOT of custody disputes right now. I’ve talked about it a bit before, of course; there are very few things that we deal with that are as serious or as terrifying as a dad taking the children and threatening to not allow them to return. We have several cases like this. It’s not a new thing by any stretch of the imagination, but the pandemic has definitely made holding these people accountable a little more difficult. In some ways, I … [Read more...]
Homeschool and Custody Amid COVID-19
Homeschool and Custody amid COVID-19 We’ve written about homeschooling before, because it has always been an option available to parents, and one that can have an impact on a custody and visitation case. Even though homeschooling may not be many parents first choice (myself included), all of the issues related to coronavirus and COVID-19 have made homeschool a daily reality for a lot of families. And it may continue to be a party of everyday life for a really long time. It’s hard to say; … [Read more...]
Dealing with Anxiety in Custody and Visitation Situations
Dealing with Anxiety In Custody and Visitation Situations It’s a common refrain: my child’s father just doesn’t do things that I believe are critical to protect my children’s safety when they’re in his care. With coronavirus, it’s even worse. We’re all feeling a little extra anxious; the world feels like such an uncertain place. It’s crazy to think that just, like, two months ago, everything was “normal”, whatever that means. Now, with the governor’s stay at home order and the Supreme … [Read more...]
What should I do if my child’s father is using coronavirus to keep my child away?
What should I do if my child’s father is using coronavirus to keep my child away? Even though Governor Northam’s order specifically allows you to leave your home in order to exchange a child pursuant to a custody and visitation order, there are a lot of parents who are using fears surrounding coronavirus as an excuse to deliberately withhold a child. I guess that’s always the case. These thing are inherently rife with ways to purposefully misunderstand and willfully ignore, especially when … [Read more...]
Visitation Exchanges with Stepchildren During the Pandemic
What about exchanging stepchildren during the pandemic? As a mom myself, I’m a member of a lot of online communities for moms. They’re not all divorce and custody related but, as you’re probably aware, we slip into that territory fairly often. I hear all sorts of questions related to it, and, mostly, in an online capacity, I don’t answer. These people don’t know me from Adam, and they’re not really asking ME anyway. They’re polling the general community to get a sense of the answer. With the … [Read more...]
How will I prove that we’ve been separated if we’re socially distancing?
How will I prove that we’ve been separated if we’re socially distancing? I’ve talked a lot recently about custody issues amid the coronavirus pandemic, but there are things about all this COVID-19 stuff that affects divorce, too. And that’s important, too! It’s complicated, it’s challenging, and it’s unprecedented, which means that a lot of the issues we’re facing no one has faced before. Not divorcing people, not attorneys, not judges – no one. And there’s bound to be some variability and … [Read more...]
My child’s father has been furloughed. What about child support?
My child’s father has been furloughed. What about child support? There aren’t great answers right now. Unemployment is at its highest rate, like, ever, which is really scary. I keep reading about mortgage companies offering some forgiveness, federal student loans are at 0% interest and on a 6 month forbearance, and the possibility of even help from utility companies and others. At the heart of it, too, is vamped up unemployment benefits and the coronavirus stimulus plan, which means that … [Read more...]
When will the courts reopen?
When will the courts reopen? If we’re hearing one question over and over again amidst all of this COVID-19 drama, its, “When will the courts reopen?” Quickly on its heels is another, related question: “Why don’t you know?!” I get it, it’s frustrating. But the courts work differently – and separately – from the stay at home order issued by Governor Northam. I know it’s hard to understand (heck, it’s hard for us to understand!) but just because the stay at home order goes until June 10th … [Read more...]
Can I refuse overnight visitation because of coronavirus?
Can I refuse overnight visitation because of coronavirus? The pandemic is changing the world. It’s changing everything, and there’s a lot of underlying fear causing people to make decisions that are more or less conducive to supporting a parenting arrangement. I’ve heard of all sorts of things recently. Parents not wanting to send their children to visitation is nothing new, of course, but COVID-19 has changed things. Even though the governor’s stay at home order clearly allows exceptions … [Read more...]
