Blog Layout

The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) and the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) have provided a joint statement of guidelines for separated parents during the COVID-19

The Center for Family Law • Mar 19, 2020

AFCC/AAML

Families are facing daily challenges in managing life in a new reality. With long histories of working to assist children and families who experience separation and divorce, The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) and the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) have provided a joint statement of guidelines for separated parents during the COVID-19 Pandemic. If you have questions or concerns, please contact a family law attorney for more guidance.

Seven Guidelines for Parents Who Are Divorce/Separated and Sharing Custody of Children During the COVID19 Pandemic

From the leaders of groups that deal with families in crisis:
Susan Myres, President of American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) 
Dr. Matt Sullivan, President of Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) 
Annette Burns, AAML and Former President of AFCC
Yasmine Mehmet, AAML
Kim Bonuomo, AAML
Nancy Kellman, AAML
Dr. Leslie Drozd, AFCC
Dr. Robin Deutsch, AFCC
Jill Peña, Executive Director of AAML
Peter Salem, Executive Director of AFCC

1. BE HEALTHY.
Comply with all CDC and local and state guidelines and model good behavior for your children with intensive hand washing, wiping down surfaces and other objects that are frequently touched, and maintaining social distancing. This also means BE INFORMED. Stay in touch with the most reliable media sources and avoid the rumor mill on social media.

2. BE MINDFUL.
Be honest about the seriousness of the pandemic but maintain a calm attitude and convey to your children your belief that everything will return to normal in time. Avoid making careless comments in front of the children and exposing them to endless media coverage intended for adults. Don’t leave the news on 24/7, for instance. But, at the same time, encourage your children to ask questions and express their concerns and answer them truthfully at a level that is age-appropriate. 

3. BE COMPLIANT with court orders and custody agreements.
As much as possible, try to avoid reinventing the wheel despite the unusual circumstances. The custody agreement or court order exists to prevent endless haggling over the details of timesharing. In some jurisdictions there are even standing orders mandating that, if schools are closed, custody agreements should remain in force as though school were still in session.


4. BE CREATIVE.
At the same time, it would be foolish to expect that nothing will change when people are being advised not to fly and vacation attractions such as amusement parks, museums and entertainment venues are closing all over the US and the world. In addition, some parents will have to work extra hours to help deal with the crisis and other parents may be out of work or working reduced hours for a time. Plans will inevitably have to change. Encourage closeness with the parent who is not going to see the child through shared books, movies, games and FaceTime or Skype.

5. BE TRANSPARENT.
Provide honest information to your co-parent about any suspected or confirmed exposure to the virus, and try to agree on what steps each of you will take to protect the child from exposure. Certainly both parents should be informed at once if the child is exhibiting any possible symptoms of the virus.

6. BE GENEROUS.
Try to provide makeup time to the parent who missed out, if at all possible. Family law judges expect reasonable accommodations when they can be made and will take seriously concerns raised in later filings about parents who are inflexible in highly unusual circumstances.

7. BE UNDERSTANDING.
There is no doubt that the pandemic will pose an economic hardship and lead to lost earnings for many, many parents, both those who are paying child support and those who are receiving child support. The parent who is paying should try to provide something, even if it can’t be the full amount. The parent who is receiving payments should try to be accommodating under these challenging and temporary circumstances.

Adversity can become an opportunity for parents to come together and focus on what is best for the child. For many children, the strange days of the pandemic will leave vivid memories. It’s important for every child to know and remember that both parents did everything they could to explain what was happening and to keep their child safe.
02 Jan, 2024
Ready to start anew but feeling lost? Look no further than the Second Saturday Divorce Workshop, hosted by The Center for Family Law. This workshop will offer tools and resources for every step of the process, providing guidance on important topics such as child custody, support, and property division. Register for second Saturday 2024 now!
17 Nov, 2023
Once again, The Center for Family Law has been ranked as a 2024 "Best Law Firm" by U.S. News & World Reports in the area of family law in St. Louis.
By Allison Gerli 21 Aug, 2023
Navigating family law can be a complex and daunting process. That's why the recent Missouri Bar Family Law Conference brought together Missouri attorneys in the field to share insights and best practices. Attorneys at The Center for Family Law were among the presenters and in attendance at the 23rd annual conference held in Branson, Missouri. Their presentations focused on managing client expectations, initial consultation, drafting documents, case management, and grandparent visitation, third-party custody, and guardianships. Initial Consultation & Managing Client Expectations To ensure a positive attorney-client relationship, it is crucial to establish clear expectations from the very beginning. This was the focus of Allison Gerli's presentation at the conference. Allison co-presented with Andrea Pate, a family law attorney and partner at The Law Office of the Ozarks. It is crucial for attorneys to establish a solid foundation of trust and communication with their clients from day one, as this sets the tone for the entire legal process. Allison stressed the significance of active listening and open dialogue during these initial meetings, allowing clients to express their concerns and goals. Allison's presentation also highlighted the importance of transparency in managing client expectations. Attorneys should provide honest assessments of their clients' cases, outlining both the strengths and potential challenges they may face. By setting realistic expectations from the outset, attorneys can help clients navigate the legal process with confidence and a clear understanding of what lies ahead. The presentation then shifted to the importance of talking to clients about process options. Often practitioners focus on the substance and overlook the process. Clients have options on how to resolve their disputes and this should be presented and supported by practitioners. The Center for Family Law prides itself on process options and educating clients on their options, whether that by an uncontested "kitchen table" style divorce, collaborative divorce process, mediation, or a semi-litigated case resolved through cooperative attorneys sitting down to work through issues. Case Management Case management is critical to providing quality services to family law clients. Ann Bauer's presentation at the conference provided valuable insights and best practices in this area. Ann co-presented with Kristen Siegel, a family law attorney and partner at Siegal & Irwin, LLC based in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Kristin covered the importance of carefully drafting court pleadings. In terms of case management, Ann highlighted the importance of document organization, keeping track of deadlines, and timely communication with clients. Attorneys must keep track of deadlines, court appearances, and client meetings to ensure cases progress smoothly. Clear and frequent communication with clients is crucial. Clients want to know what is going on, and not to be left wondering. It is important to provide updates, address concerns, and gather necessary information for the client’s case. Ann also discussed the significance of effective document management as a part of case management. Maintaining well-organized and easily accessible files can streamline the legal process and ensure important documents and information are readily available. F.amily law cases are often document-heavy. Keeping documents organized in a systematic way can enable the attorney to prepare for settlement and trial Grandparent Visitation, Third-Party Custody, and Guardianships Hallie Van Duren delivered a two-part presentation on the complex legal issues surrounding grandparent visitation rights, third-party custody, and guardianships. Hallie co-presented with attorney Kristen Sparks, partner at Garnholz Sparks. Typically, guardianship cases involve neglect, abuse, or the inability of the biological parents to provide a suitable environment for a child. A guardian who is appointed by the Court steps into the role of a parent in all respects. A third-party custody action can similarly result in a third-party custodian stepping completely into the role of a parent, but, unlike in guardianship cases, third-party custody can in some circumstances result in a shared custody arrangement between biological parents and non-parents. Grandparent visitation involves much more limited court-ordered contact between a grandparent and a child or children while preserving the parental right to custody. Hallie outlined the legal standards and procedures for a non-parent to seek custody or visitation of a child in each of these types of cases, emphasizing the paramount concern of establishing and preserving the child's best interests. By exploring statutes, caselaw, and examples, Hallie’s presentation analyzed which type of action would be most appropriate in different circumstances. Over the course of her two-hour presentation, Hallie examined the complex legal balance of preserving relationships between children and grandparents or other third parties while respecting parental rights. Hallie offered practical guidance for Missouri attorneys in advising clients who are either seeking to establish grandparent visitation rights, guardianship, or third-party-custody or defend against such actions.
Share by: