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Coronavirus COVID-19 Update from Family Court Viewpoint

Coronavirus COVID-19 Update from Family Court Viewpoint

Posted on March 19th, 2020

Probate & Family Court Releases Standing Order 2-20 to Deal with Coronavirus

Standing Order 2-20 requires Probate & Family Courthouses to remain closed to the public except in very limited circumstances until at least April 6.  Until May 1, most hearings currently scheduled will be automatically re-scheduled by the court, and no new hearing requests are allowed (except in emergencies).   The courts are requiring telephonic and videoconferencing for hearings that will take place before May 1.

As with all others in the Commonwealth, we are waiting to see how practically this Order will be implemented.

Co-Parenting in the time of COVID-19

Here are some tips that are recommended for dealing with Coronavirus during this difficult period of time:

  1. Follow Court Orders unless you and your co-parent have an agreement otherwise.
  2. Use common sense and maintain a calm attitude.  Convey a calm demeanor to your child.
  3. Wash your hands often and have your child do the same.
  4. Maintain a clean home environment.
  5. Use Skype, Facetime or other video chat technology to ensure your child can communicate often with your co-parent.
  6. Communicate with your co-parent immediately if you or your child test positive for the virus.
  7. Remain flexible.

If you are laid off

In the event that one parent gets laid off, it may be grounds for a Complaint for Modification for child support or alimony.  Please contact our office if you have questions about child support or alimony modification in this difficult time.  Read more about modification cases here.

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Disclaimer: This page is not intended as legal advice and is informational only.  If you have legal questions, please consult an attorney.  See our full disclaimer here.