{"id":4645,"date":"2020-03-27T16:41:41","date_gmt":"2020-03-27T16:41:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/?p=4645"},"modified":"2020-05-07T12:53:08","modified_gmt":"2020-05-07T12:53:08","slug":"coronavirus-family-law-child-contact-court-hearings-etc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/2020\/03\/27\/coronavirus-family-law-child-contact-court-hearings-etc\/","title":{"rendered":"Coronavirus and Family Law: child contact, Court hearings etc"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Coronavirus-and-Family-Law-Child-contact-Court-hearings-etc.jpg\"><img data-attachment-id=\"4697\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/2020\/03\/27\/coronavirus-family-law-child-contact-court-hearings-etc\/coronavirus-and-family-law-child-contact-court-hearings-etc\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Coronavirus-and-Family-Law-Child-contact-Court-hearings-etc.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"911,683\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Coronavirus and Family Law- Child contact, Court hearings etc\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Coronavirus-and-Family-Law-Child-contact-Court-hearings-etc-300x225.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Coronavirus-and-Family-Law-Child-contact-Court-hearings-etc.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4697\" src=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Coronavirus-and-Family-Law-Child-contact-Court-hearings-etc.jpg\" alt=\"Coronavirus and Family Law- Child contact, Court hearings etc\" width=\"911\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Coronavirus-and-Family-Law-Child-contact-Court-hearings-etc.jpg 911w, https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Coronavirus-and-Family-Law-Child-contact-Court-hearings-etc-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Coronavirus-and-Family-Law-Child-contact-Court-hearings-etc-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 911px) 100vw, 911px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Coronavirus poses a serious risk to\u00a0the health of our loved ones. But there are additional worries:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Can you see your children<\/li>\n<li>Will your Court case go ahead<\/li>\n<li>Money worries &#8211; some action you can take<\/li>\n<li>Domestic abuse and domestic violence<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Time to consult an <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">experienced family lawyer<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><em>&#8211;\u00a0<\/em>we can\u00a0assist you with\u00a0remote advice by phone or Skype. In the meantime\u00a0I\u00a0will answer\u00a0some of your most urgent\u00a0questions in this blog. But first, a reminder of the coronavirus rules.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>How to stay safe and reduce\u00a0the spread of infection<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The Government has issued\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people\/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults\" target=\"_blank\">s<em>ocial distancing rules<\/em><\/a>\u00a0to limit the spread of coronavirus:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"global-bar__list\">\n<li><em>Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home)<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Wash your hands as soon as you get home<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You can spread the virus even if you don\u2019t have symptoms. Those at increased risk of severe illness are advised to be particularly stringent.\u00a0This group includes those who are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>aged 70 or older (regardless of medical conditions)<\/li>\n<li>under 70 with an underlying health condition &#8211; a list of these conditions is\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people\/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>For those with possible coronavirus in their household<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Here are the\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance\/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection\" target=\"_blank\">stay at home rules<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Should you send your children for contact? Can you see your children?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>You have a\u00a0Court order or an agreement setting out the child arrangements. This sets out the contact routine, or that the children live part of the time with you, part of the time with their other parent. The Government says:\u00a0<em><strong>Where parents do not live in the same household, children under 18 can be moved between their parents\u2019 homes<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/em>This\u00a0doesn&#8217;t mean children\u00a0<em>must\u00a0<\/em>move between parents&#8217; homes, it just means they\u00a0<em>can.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p>In normal times, no one should break a Court order, and if they do, the other parent can ask the Court to enforce it. The Court may agree there\u00a0was a &#8216;reasonable excuse&#8217; for breaching the order. But otherwise the penalties are unpaid work, compensation, fines etc. However if you both act in good faith and do your best to reach a sensible arrangement in the current crisis, the Court is unlikely to object.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>But what if someone has coronavirus symptoms<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If either household has a member with coronavirus symptoms, then the <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance\/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection\" target=\"_blank\">stay at home rules<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>apply. Try to reach a common sense agreement between you. For example, during the fourteen day quarantine period have contact with the children by FaceTime, Skype, or phone instead.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>What\u00a0if someone is vulnerable<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If someone in either household\u00a0is in\u00a0a vulnerable category, you need to protect them against infection. This could mean the children can&#8217;t move between households safely. Make alternative arrangements, for example contact by FaceTime, Skype, or phone.\u00a0This is hard, I know, but taking this precaution could literally save someone&#8217;s life. This is a particularly tricky area. Consult\u00a0an\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">experienced family lawyer<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Remote contact with a young child &#8211; how to make it work<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>How about each household having a stock of age appropriate books, games, art materials, crafts. This will help make remote contact a constructive and creative play session\u00a0for younger children.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Be flexible<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>One or both of\u00a0you may now have full time child care responsibilities, and be struggling to work at home. You may be unable to travel on public transport because\u00a0you fear infection.\u00a0Try to rethink your arrangement for as long as the crisis lasts. For example, alter the arrangements for transporting the children to and from contact. If you can&#8217;t agree this between you, consider <a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/how-we-do-it\/mediation\" target=\"_blank\"><em>mediation<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(which can be offered remotely) or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/collaborative-law\" target=\"_blank\"><em>collaborative law<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>What can I do during contact visits<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Obey the social distancing rules: stay indoors with the children.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Try to adapt amicably<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The top rule in dealing with child contact at the moment is to come to an amicable agreement: try to smooth things over, stay calm, find a middle ground &#8211; if only in the interests of the children.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Money worries<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If you&#8217;re worried about debt, take a look at <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stepchange.org\/debt-info\/debt-and-coronavirus.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">StepChange<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em>If you&#8217;re worried about your job and wages, take a look at the guidance for employees on\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19\/covid-19-guidance-for-employees\" target=\"_blank\">gov.uk<\/a>. <\/em>If you&#8217;re self-employed or a member of a partnership and have lost income, take a look at guidance on\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme\" target=\"_blank\">gov.uk<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Child support<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If the paying parent&#8217;s salary evaporates because of the current crisis, they will need to inform the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/manage-child-maintenance-case\/changes-you-need-to-report\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Child Maintenance\u00a0Service<\/em><\/a>\u00a0and be reassessed. If you have agreed payments between yourselves, perhaps you could\u00a0agree a lesser amount, or a payment holiday, on a temporary basis. This is a difficult time for both households, you&#8217;re both facing unusual financial challenges. Try to agree something if you can. Otherwise consult an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>experienced family lawyer<\/em><\/a> and\/or consider\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/how-we-do-it\/mediation\" target=\"_blank\"><em>mediation<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(by Skype) or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/collaborative-law\" target=\"_blank\"><em>collaborative law<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Maintenance<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Similarly with maintenance paid by one former spouse to another. If there&#8217;s a Court order, you\u00a0must keep to it, and make an application to the Court for a variation order. If you don&#8217;t keep the maintenance payments going, your ex can make an application to the Court for an enforcement order, which can include\u00a0payment of the\u00a0arrears. In these financially precarious times, consult an\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">experienced family lawyer<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>and\/or\u00a0consider\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/how-we-do-it\/mediation\" target=\"_blank\"><em>mediation<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(by Skype) or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/collaborative-law\" target=\"_blank\"><em>collaborative law<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Court hearings\u00a0about the children or the family finances or domestic violence<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The Court\u00a0wants all family hearings\u00a0to go ahead and most will go ahead remotely with the use of technology.\u00a0 The Court has issued guidance,\u00a0<em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.transparencyproject.org.uk\/the-presidents-guidance-for-the-family-court-on-covid-19\/\" target=\"_blank\">COVID 19: National guidance for the Family Court 19th March 2020<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>with the aim to\u00a0&#8220;<em>keep business going safely<\/em>&#8220;.\u00a0 Hearings\u00a0should be by email, telephone, video or Skype if at all possible. This will be a learning curve for the Courts and will take a week or two to settle down.<\/p>\n<p>The guidance covers how to arrange telephone\u00a0and video hearings. There is a\u00a0list of the type of hearings that\u00a0must now go ahead remotely.\u00a0The guidance lists who is responsible for making the arrangements for the remote hearing. A Court bundle must be\u00a0submitted &#8211; a PDF by email.<\/p>\n<p>If it&#8217;s not clear whether your hearing can go ahead remotely, it will be necessary to have a\u00a0remote directions hearing. This hearing will make the necessary plans.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Domestic abuse\/violence<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If you are\u00a0the victim of domestic abuse or violence, the Courts and the police are there to protect you.\u00a0Here are some things you can do right now:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>If you ever feel in immediate danger, contact 999 immediately<\/li>\n<li>Domestic abuse or violence is a crime and you should report it to the police.\u00a0Various organisations\u00a0offer help and support.\u00a0The\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/report-domestic-abuse\" target=\"_blank\">gov.uk<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>site has a list with\u00a0links<\/li>\n<li>Phone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247, or visit their\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\">website<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<li>Consult a <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">family solicitor<\/a><\/em> in strictest confidence.\u00a0You may need the protection of a Court injunction:\n<ol>\n<li>A non molestation injunction prohibits an abuser from using or threatening violence against you, or harassing, pestering or intimidating you.\u00a0The police can\u00a0arrest the abuser if they breach the order<\/li>\n<li>An occupation order will say who can live in the family home or enter the surrounding area<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><strong>Coronavirus and Family Law: Child contact, Court hearings etc<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Contact Family Lawyer Joanne Houston on\u00a0<a href=\"tel:01962%20217640\">01962 217640<\/a>\u00a0for an initial\u00a0consultation on\u00a0<em>Coronavirus and Family Law: Child contact, Court hearings etc.\u00a0<\/em>In this 20 minute session she will review your situation and how you can achieve your objectives.<\/p>\n<p><em>JUST FAMILY LAW are specialist divorce and family lawyers. We offer\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/2017\/06\/02\/pay-as-you-go-divorce-costs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pay as you go costs<\/a>. We offer\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/2019\/01\/17\/what-is-collaborative-family-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Collaborative law<\/a>\u00a0solutions tailored to your family\u2019s needs.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>The topics covered in this blog post\u00a0<em>Coronavirus and Family Law: Child contact, Court hearings etc<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em>are complex<\/strong><strong>. They are provided for general guidance only. If any of the circumstances mentioned in this blog apply to you, seek expert legal advice.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>image for\u00a0Coronavirus and Family Law: Child contact, Court hearings etc,\u00a0A woman looking out the window (Unsplash) by\u00a0Kate Williams on\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:A_woman_looking_out_the_window_(Unsplash).jpg\" target=\"_blank\">Wikimedia<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Coronavirus poses a serious risk to\u00a0the health of our loved ones. But there are additional worries: Can you see your children Will your Court case go ahead Money worries &#8211; some action you can take Domestic abuse and domestic violence Time to consult an experienced family lawyer\u00a0&#8211;\u00a0we can\u00a0assist you with\u00a0remote advice by phone or Skype. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4697,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[615],"tags":[616,178,619,621,555,517,620,109,624,625,617,618,622,623],"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4645"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4645"}],"version-history":[{"count":68,"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4645\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4715,"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4645\/revisions\/4715"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4697"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4645"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4645"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4645"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}