By Lindsay B. Haber

As the legal industry continues to address the latest challenges and issues presented by COVID-19, the family court system is adjusting by holding hearings and mediations virtually. But what about the parents?

Children are looking to their parents for a sense of normalcy, which can be difficult and confusing. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to ensure you and your co-parent are working together to navigate these times in a healthy and effective way for your child. 

Keep consistency with school
With a large portion of children in South Florida going back to school via virtual learning platforms, it is important to foster a stable learning environment. If your child is going back and forth between homes during the week, having similar set-ups in each home is critical. Try to create the same type of educational environment in both homes to establish a routine, similar to what they would experience while attending school in person.

Discuss child support adjustments
If you or your co-parent had a reduction in salary or were laid off as a result of the pandemic, consider discussing temporary modifications to your child support. When it comes to finances, rushing back to court is not always the most-cost effective way to resolve the matter. If possible, try to come up with a temporary solution with your co-parent or contact a family law attorney to try and help settle the matter outside of the courtroom in a way that is best for your child.

Have a plan for doctor’s visits
Whether it’s a routine check-up or a visit to the doctor’s office when your child is sick, it is best to find out ahead of time what your pediatrician’s rules are amidst COVID-19. As a precaution, some physicians are only allowing one parent in the room with the child at a time. Call your doctor and find out what their policies are for a visit and try to make a plan ahead of time with your co-parent should either of you need to take your child. I recommend first talking with your co-parent to decide who will take the child in for the routine check-ups and have a set plan in place in the event you need to take your child for a sick visit.

While these are only a handful of suggestions, it is important to keep in mind that every family and situation is different and should be handled on a case-by-case basis. For more assistance with financial or child-support issues or to address family law matters, please contact Kluger Kaplan.