Co-parenting can have its charming moments, but many parents find it difficult to navigate overall. This is more true than ever because of the current COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic is a novel situation, and it’s constantly evolving. At first many of us thought we would only be social distancing for a few weeks or months. Over time, we’ve come to realize that simply is not the case.
Now, many kids will be home for the school year, and co-parents are scrambling to adjust their child care plans. If your child is participating in distance learning, you may wonder whether they would be better supported by staying in one parent’s home full time. As a result, you might want to temporarily adjust your custody order until things get back to normal – which may not be for a while! Luckily, our St. Paul child custody lawyers are ready to quickly file for temporary custody on your behalf.
Reasons for Seeking A Temporary Custody Change
Many parents view school as a safe place their kids can go for the day while they’re at work. Since the pandemic, some parents have been forced to find alternate arrangements for their children; this especially affects parents who must work outside of the home. If your ex has primary custody of your child but cannot supervise them during the day due to work, you may want to seek temporary custody – particularly if you have the option to work remotely.
You might also be concerned that your child will be exposed to the Coronavirus if they continue to spend time with their other parent. For example, if your ex is a first responder, they may be coming into contact with individuals who are sick. They could be risking your child’s health by maintaining your current custody agreement. We still don’t know the long-term effects of the virus, so even if your child is otherwise healthy it could be risky to expose them to COVID-19. However, your St. Paul family lawyer will have to get the courts to agree with this sentiment before you switch up your child custody arrangement.
Changing Your Custody Agreement
In order to change your custody agreement, you must prove to the courts that “a change has occurred in the circumstances of the child or the parties and that the modification is necessary to serve the best interests of the child.” This could be due to your ex having what would be considered a dangerous job, your child’s schooling arrangement changing, or any number of other factors.
Work with your St. Paul child custody attorney to compile the facts of your case, including:
- A report that shows recent parenting time
- Documents demonstrating the parents’ new work schedule and the child’s school schedule
- Statements from doctors, teachers, caregivers, and other witnesses
- Medical, school, work, and other official records
- Photos, emails, texts, social media posts, and other unofficial records
If you only want to make small changes to your current custody arrangement, such as the time of day your custody exchange occurs, keep in mind that you may not have to go to court as long as your co-parent agrees to these changes. Many exes are finding ways to slightly modify their custody orders out of court to achieve a win-win-win scenario for both parents and their children. But if your co-parent is uncooperative, be prepared to speak to a judge about your proposed changes.
St. Paul Attorneys for Child Custody Modification
Are you seeking an attorney to help you modify your child custody order during the pandemic? Maxim Smith Family Law is ready to advocate for you and your child. You shouldn’t have to worry about your child being exposed to an unsafe virus or falling behind in school because your co-parent isn’t free to help with their online learning. Let our team work with you to create the ideal outcome for your child’s well-being during the pandemic. Give us a call at 651-294-2407 to schedule your virtual consultation.