Since March 28, 2020, all Kansans have been subject to a statewide “stay home” order in an effort to stymie the spread of COVID-19. For most Kansas parents, this order created a new set of parenting issues to navigate. Many found themselves asking questions like: How do I explain to my four-year-old that he can’t play with Tommy next door? What do I tell my ten-year-old who wants to play on the jungle gym at the park? For parents who are attempting to co-parent from separate households, this likely got added to the laundry list of differences they will need to work through.

So what do you do if you find that your co-parent is not adhering to social distancing guidelines or the six-foot rule? What do you do if you find one parent is allowing the children to continue to have play dates or partake in COVID-19 parties (parties where parents intentionally expose their children to COVID-19)?

First, you should contact your co-parent and express your concerns and desires to strictly adhere to Executive Order No. 20-16. If this communication fails, contact your attorney. Your attorney can file a motion requesting that the court adopt Executive Order No. 20-16 as a parenting order that both parties must strictly follow. You could request a loss of parenting time or monetary sanctions for any violations that occur after the court adopts it as a parenting time order.

Like most things related to this novel coronavirus, the issues that are cropping up in family law courts are new. The divorce and child custody attorneys at Joseph, Hollander & Craft LLC are committed to approaching these new issues rationally and strategically. Our firm is still open, and our attorneys are available to schedule telephone conferences and meetings, answer any and all questions, and draft and file documents and pleadings.