Making Up Lost Parenting Time Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic poses a lot of challenges for divorced parents who split custody of their children. Changing circumstances with work and school may make it necessary for changes to be made here and there to custody arrangements, which means one parent might not get as much time with the children as usual.

It is understandable, then, for parents to be concerned about whether or not they’ll be able to make that time up later. Here’s an overview of what you should know.

Maintain custody schedules as much as possible

First and foremost, divorced parents are expected to stick to their custody arrangements and schedules as much as possible. Despite the changing circumstances brought forth by the pandemic, all custody agreements are still in effect and enforceable as written.

That being said, if it becomes absolutely necessary to make some small, temporary changes to the custody schedule and one parent misses parenting time, the courts will likely be amenable to makeup time after restrictions such as shelter-in-place orders are relaxed.

It is a good idea to discuss with your attorney the prospect of missing parenting time so you can create an official agreement with the other parent about make-up time before you make any changes to your custody schedule.

It is also important to keep in mind that given the unprecedented nature of this pandemic, it is impossible to say with complete certainty how courts will respond to the situation, and whether or not they will enforce make-up time agreements.

Ultimately, your attorney will be the best resource you have for making sure you get the parenting time that is your right. For more information about how to proceed, contact an experienced Long Island divorce lawyer at Bryan L. Salamone & Associates.