Child Custody

The current pandemic has made it difficult for some parents to spend time with their children. While the Courts have made it clear that they expect existing custody orders to be followed during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and Stay at Home Orders, issues may still arise that make it difficult for parents to exchange children during this time. For example, one parent may have been exposed and be required to self-quarantine while the children were with the other parent, and the children may not be able to immediately come over; children may be required to quarantine with a particular parent if they were exposed while with that parent; or the parties may simply be unable to travel at this time. This could result in one…

The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts issued a joint statement with the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers titled, “7 Guidelines for Parents Who Are Divorced/Separated and Sharing Custody of Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Every parent faced with exchanging custody of their children during this time, will benefit from this advice. Stay at Home Orders are going into place, requiring people to stay at home for the next 30 days, except for essential activities. St. Louis City and County Stay at Home Orders both specifically provide an exception to allow for custody exchanges – which means you may leave your home to exchange custody of your child. Since your custody schedule and parenting plan are court orders, you must follow them. These are extraordinary…