Over the past 2 months, COVID-19 has completely upended daily life. Schools and universities have been suspended indefinitely and many employees have been laid off due to a severe crunch in resources. All of us are dealing with these unique situations in different ways; some special situations require a synergy for smooth functioning— shared parenting.
A mandatory lockdown has posed a multitude of unforeseen problems in the case of co-parenting— handling custody and visitation rights being right at the top of this long list for separated families. The most frequently asked question for family lawyers in Sydney is whether the court orders still need to be obeyed in light of current events and the answer to that is a big yes. A pandemic is not to be used as a reason to prevent your child/ren from visiting their other parent. A balance has to be maintained. Delicate problems call for delicate solutions and that’s where family lawyers NSW can help.
Shared Care during Social Distancing— What do you need to know?
The family court of Australia released a statement on April 26th stating they will immediately look into parenting concerns that demand immediate attention. These include—families that are under the risk of increased domestic violence due to the lockdown; inability to reach a mutual agreement regarding contact centres to facilitate supervised contact; travel between cities and states restricted due to inter-city travel bans in the case of families where one party resides across state borders; medical reasons where one or more members of any household have been exposed to the Coronavirus and are under self-quarantine and/or have tested positive.
The court has also advised parents to get in touch with their family lawyers in Sydney to be advised about their next step. With the help of technology, hearings and consultations can be held over the telephone, Skype, Zoom or video conferencing apps.
Regarding families for whom these conditions don’t apply, we urge the parents to communicate frequently and calmly. If the situation calls for tweaking the existing arrangements only slightly to accommodate necessary changes, we recommend recording this agreement over email, text message or even better, in writing. Keep in mind the best interests of your child’s safety only— this is not the time to try and isolate the child/ren from the other parent. Pick your battles, choose wisely and when in doubt, don’t hesitate to call your lawyers or other helplines to seek guidance.
Children are especially vulnerable to tremendous changes to everyday life; talk to your co-partner regularly, and be clear about your concerns. Lay all your cards on the table and gently ask that they do the same. Clarity helps in times of confusion, and it helps your child to see that their parents are still on amicable terms— it’s best not to give them more grief in the current situation. Put your personal concerns and dislike aside and aim for an understanding that leaves no room for doubt.
When all plans and strategies fail and you are left with no option but to get the perspective and guidance of a third party, get help from the leading lawyers in NSW. Contact Family Lawyers NSW today for legal assistance. Call us on 02 8084 2764.
