Children and Divorce During COVID-19

Dealing with children and divorce during COVID-19 can be complicated for parents and children. Between quarantine orders and custody agreements, there can be a lot to figure out while keeping your child safe. Although many parents may have a plan in place, not everyone is on such good terms with their ex. However many courts have come forward with directions for parents trying to figure out custody agreements. 

LET’S BEGIN:

• Navigating a Divorce Under Quarantine
• Custody and “Stay at Home” Order
• Medical Professionals and Custody Agreements
• Tips for Visitation after COVID-19 
• Quick Answers

Navigating a Divorce Under Quarantine

For those who are on good terms with their ex-partner, there are many ways to keep everyone safe. First, you may agree on a home that your child can stay in while the pandemic continues. For instance, if your child primarily stays with one parent during the school year they can continue to live there until the “Stay at Home” order is lifted. Next, you may agree to set up daily or weekly phone or video conference calls to keep in touch with the day to day. 

However this set up doesn’t work for everyone dealing with children and divorce during COVID-19, such as cases where parents have a harder time coming to an agreement. In these cases you should continue to follow the terms of your custody agreement. “Stay at Home” orders will not affect the transfer of children from one parents’ home to another. 

Custody and “Stay at Home” Order

The COVID-19 epidemic has brought out a lot of fears, especially for parents. Although schools are closed and most states are under quarantine, cases are still increasing and that can be a scary thought. However, these fears have taken some people to extremes. For instance, some parents have stopped exchanging children and have kept them in quarantine in their homes. 

This, however, doesn’t just go against your custody agreement but could put you in contempt of court. Furthermore, parents dealing with children and divorce during COVID-19 should know that the “Stay at Home” order in Ohio will not interfere with exchanging children. The Ohio order allows for travel required by court order.  

Medical Professionals and Custody Agreements

If you or your ex-spouse work around COVID-19 patients, you may need to rewrite your current agreement to keep children safe from exposure. If you believe that you or your ex-spouse may have a high risk, talk to your ex-partner about next steps. You may need to agree upon another location for your child to stay. However, remember that you and your ex still have rights if you have been allowed visitation. Although you or ex-spouse may not be able to see your child in person, one or both of you should arrange for phone or video calls in order to be a part of your child’s life.

Although the risk may be high for some medical professionals, just working in the medical field does not mean that you forfeit custody of your child. Unless a court decided otherwise, the decision of where your child stays is up to you as you deal with children and divorce during COVID-19.

Tips for Visitation after COVID-19 

Many parents have been dealing with limitations on what to do with children with restrictions on leaving the home. If you are dealing with children and divorce during COVID-19, you may benefit from some of these helpful tips on what to do with your children at home.

You can create a scavenger hunt around the house, the backyard, or you can compile a list of things to look for as you and your child walk around the block. You can also teach or learn skills such as embroidery or cooking. Even learning code could be a fun way to bond, teach a valuable lesson, and make your time together a happy memory amidst great difficulty. That is such a gift to you both. 

You might also take this time to play board games or video games with your child. Also, take time to read with your child. No matter the age, reading as a family is educational and fun.

Parents who cannot be physically present due to quarantine can still interact with their children from afar. First, you may call or video call your child to talk about their day or you could read with them! Finally, you might consider playing a game over the internet to keep in touch with your child.

---

Quick Answers