Child Custody and Support Issues Relating to COVID-19 in Colorado

COVID-19 has impacted nearly every family in Colorado in one way or another. For parents who share

custody of their children, it has been particularly distressing. Many child custody and support issues have

plagued families since the statewide ordered quarantine in 2020.

With the delta variant of the coronavirus now devastating families across the country again, with nearly as

much tenacity as the original virus, parents have genuine concerns about how their families will continue

to be affected. Here are some joint child custody and support issues families like yours have been

through and the steps you need to take to solve them. 

Will Your Child Custody or Visitation Be Affected?

Many, if not most, marriages will end badly. It is rare for a divorce settlement to be amicable in Colorado. Collaborative divorce was intended to provide opportunities for spouses to move forward with their lives, doing as little damage as possible to themselves and their families. But the idea of a collaborative divorce is often better than the actual process. When your spouse has cheated on you, been charged with a crime, or has otherwise driven you to divorce, the last thing you want is to work with them. They might even be out to take you for everything you have worked so hard for. When you need a divorce lawyer who isn’t afraid to help you assert your rights and fight back, call Mitch Geller.

What Is the Likelihood Of a Collaborative Divorce Working?

In March of 2020, when the state issued a stay-at-home order, many families struggled to figure out what they should do with childcare and custody agreements. Families with existing child custody plans ran into several issues. Some wondered whether they should continue to send their children back and forth between both parent's homes. 

Others wondered whether the other parent might decide to violate child custody orders by refusing to send the children back to the other parent's home after a visit. It was chaos for families across the state and put further strain on divorced couples who now had to over communicate and about issues not clearly outlined in their custody agreement. In some cases, certain parents have used the coronavirus pandemic to wrongfully withhold visitation without due cause. 

Families who were waiting on child custody agreements to be made through the court were stalled. Their cases were halted with the pandemic and still may not have been resolved. Without existing custody arrangements in place, it can leave either parent and the children vulnerable. 

Thankfully, families like yours can breathe a sigh of relief. Even though the coronavirus pandemic seems far from over, your child custody plans are considered essential. Should another lockdown occur, your existing agreement will need to continue as ordered by the court. 

What Happens If a Child Custody Order is Violated in Colorado?

Whatever your reasons may be for feeling as though it is necessary to violate an existing child custody order, you would be well-advised to stick to your agreement. This could put your future child custody and visitation rights in jeopardy. 

Instead, you might petition the court to have your child custody arrangement modified. If you can show that such a modification is in the best interests of your children, you may be able to have your petition granted. Be sure to make a note of the issues that might be a cause for concern, such as:

• Will your children be exposed to COVID-19?

• Will your children be vaccinated when the COVID-19 vaccine becomes available to their age group?

• Are there other people living in the home who are at an increased risk for covid exposure?

• What happens if your child’s other parent isn’t following a mask mandate?

These are just a few of the concerns families had when the pandemic initially took its toll. With the risk of increased COVID-19 exposure, child custody and visitation disputes are sure to continue to be a struggle for many Coloradans, especially as more information about COVID variants emerges. Make sure you protect your children and your family by hiring a child custody lawyer in Colorado so that you’re prepared to ask for changes to your agreement as it becomes necessary.

How Will Your Child Support Agreement Change Amid COVID-19?

When the coronavirus began to run rampant through Colorado, job loss was one of the ways people were most impacted. Any place of business or establishment that wasn't considered essential was ordered to close. However, even if you lose your job due to Covid, you're still required to pay child support unless the court grants a petition to modify your existing child support agreements. 

The courts will consider several factors, most notably, your sources of income. If you are collecting unemployment benefits and any COVID-19 related benefits, these will be regarded the same as your earned wages. The court system is still backed up and will remain so for the foreseeable future. If you have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic and need to change your child support agreement, you should file your petition as soon as possible. 

Get Help From a Family Law Attorney in Colorado

The coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc on the lives of millions of people around the world. And it may continue to affect your family for the foreseeable future. Whether you want to prevent any child custody or support changes from being made or believe making changes is what’s best for you and your children, you need an experienced attorney advocating for your interests. 

Contact Colorado family lawyer Mitch Geller for help today. Please fill out our online contact form or call our office at 720-696-7897 to get started on your case.