Tips for Managing Custody Exchanges During the Pandemic

Tips for Managing Custody Exchanges During the Pandemic

While the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in some significant changes to the way we live our lives, parents who have shared custody agreements should know that custody and visitation guidelines remain in place during the pandemic, as both parents have the same right to maintaining a relationship with their children.

This means when it comes time to make the custody exchange, it is very important to exercise the proper precautions to keep everyone safe and healthy. Here are some tips to follow.

  • Be familiar with local orders and guidelines: Different states and municipalities have been setting their own rules with regard to shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders and the reopenings following them. Shelter in place orders will not have any effect on your ability to have your custody or visitation time, but they may affect where or how you make custody exchanges.
  • Socially distanced visitation: If there are legitimate concerns about one parent’s exposure or about possible virus exposure to anyone, you might consider some “socially distanced visitation” time with video calls or other remote quality contact. This isn’t the same as an in-person visit, but the last thing you want is to unnecessarily expose anyone to the virus. You and the other parent may be able to come to an agreement about in-person makeup time when the threat of exposure is gone.
  • CDC guidelines: Follow all CDC guidelines during custody exchanges to limit the potential spread of the virus. This includes washing your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer, wearing a mask when around people from outside of your household, and sanitizing belongings that will be transferred from one house to another.

These are unusual and stressful times, but if everyone is able to follow the guidelines from health professionals, it will make custody transfers go as smoothly as possible. For more information about continuing to share custody during the pandemic, contact an experienced Long Island child custody attorney at Bryan L. Salamone & Associates.

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