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COVID-19 Child Custody Questions & Answers
2 Answers | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Health Care Law for New York on
Q: Is it illegal a child's mom forces the father to take the child while COVID positive and also his gf is too.

She wouldn't take no for an answer. Forced her son to be exposed to COVID. Now does the father have the right to keep the child until he fully quarantines?

T. Augustus Claus
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answered on Nov 22, 2023

if the child is exposed to COVID and becomes sick, the parent who forced the child to take the child could be held liable for the child's medical expenses. Additionally, if the child is exposed to COVID and then infects other people, the parent who forced the child to take the child could be... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Family Law, Immigration Law, Adoption and Child Custody for California on
Q: Can I Adopt My Goddaughter From Mexico if I Have Been Providing for her over 3 Years?

My Goddaughter lives in mexico with her parents, but they had financial problems due to Covid-19 and I have been providing everything she needs during the past few years. Her parents are willing to relenquish her custody to me, but I want to know if I could leagly adopt her and bring her to the US.

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Aug 27, 2023

Adopting a child from another country involves both the laws of that country and U.S. federal immigration laws. If her parents willingly relinquish custody, you could initiate the international adoption process, which is governed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Once the... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Nevada on
Q: If my children have direct covid exposure and dr advised quarantine am I wrong to keep our kids during dads week of vist

I am mom and kids got covid exposure from step dad. kids are negative covid with heavy symptoms, and taking medicine.

Janice Jacovino
Janice Jacovino
answered on Feb 7, 2023

Your should discuss the information with dad and see if you can reach an agreement and give him the information on the children's health. As long as the travel time or being with dad does not harm the children, Dad can decide if he should to have his visitation time when the children are ill.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for Massachusetts on
Q: I have sole custody of my 7 year old. During a visit with his dad, his dad got him vaccinated without my permission

I was never married to my sons father, and then he moved to a different country. He visits twice a year for a few weeks. He was here over Christmas this year, and I had the flu, so he offered to take my son to his annual physical. While he was there he got him vaccinated for covid, against my... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Jan 10, 2023

Either parent may consent to the vaccination of a minor.

Theoretically, you can petition the court with jurisdiction over your custody case for the sole right to make decisions for the non-emergency medical treatment of your child. However, your refusal to allow routine vaccinations like...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Ohio on
Q: Is my daughter’s mother allowed to withhold my visitation for COVID scares and positive tests even though I was exposed?

My 4 year old was exposed (supposedly) on Friday, but had surgery on her arm on Saturday, with no precautions taken by the hospital. I spent all day with her and her mother in the hospital on Saturday. Now, the mother states my daughter has tested positive and refused to appear at our exchange... View More

Nicholas P. Weiss
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answered on Oct 26, 2022

No. The covid emergency orders explicitly stated that you could NOT do this. If she is doing this in violation of a parenting order then you can file a motion to show cause.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Maryland on
Q: Do I need permission from my ex-wife to get my kids covid tested.

I have 50/50 joint custody and my ex is anti-vax and anti covid-19 testing. I want to take my kids to a convention this weekend that requires testing and so I ran it by the kids first, with the intent to ask her after I talked to them. One of the kids told her before I had a chance and now... View More

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Oct 19, 2021

Is there a court order or judgment in place awarding one of you sole residential custody, or sole or final say in major medical decisions, or do you have shared custody or to you share those decisions equally? Is there a custody agreement in place that addresses the issue? You need to review your... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Ohio on
Q: My daughter's father has tested positive for covid. Our daughter and myself have both tested negative.

She was/is with him for his time according to our shared parenting plan. He is refusing to allow me to pick up our daughter. Can I take her against his wishes and can I refuse visitation with him due to his positive covid result (

Cathy Cook
Cathy Cook
answered on Sep 26, 2021

Generally, the Courts are not requiring parents to relinquish parenting time due to a positive COVID test. Has your daughter been vaccinated or is she too young? Does she have any health conditions? Is he wearing a mask, having her do so, and keeping distance?

You might see if her...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Massachusetts on
Q: My mother has court ordered visits of one of my daughters, with the rise of Covid again, I'm not comfortable with it

They have 2 grown children who also live in MA and visit them almost daily, but my mother lives in RI. They aren't cautious, but I don't want to be held in contempt. I've offered video calls and outdoor visits, they won't budge. How do I keep my foot down?

Kimberly Erwin
Kimberly Erwin
answered on Sep 12, 2021

I don’t know that you can. If the court order was entered after the start of the pandemic, you most likely need to allow visits. If it was entered previous to the pandemic, I would suggest requesting masks (as well as your other requests) be worn in writing. If they refuse, I would document the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for Louisiana on
Q: I have Joint custody of my daughter, 15 years of age. My ex-wife is the domicile parent. Does my ex have the right to

give my daughter the Covid-19 vaccine against my wishes? My wishes were stated in a message to my ex on OFW, prior to the first vaccinination and again after the first, and prior to the second.

Ellen Cronin Badeaux
Ellen Cronin Badeaux
answered on Aug 26, 2021

Yes as the domiciliary parent, she has the right to give your daughter an FDA approved, CDC recommended vaccination which is also recommended by the AMA to prevent potentially terminal disease including: measles, mumps, rubella, polio, meningitis, HPV, pneumonia, chicken pox, diphtheria, pertussis... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for New Jersey on
Q: I have a 16 yr old granddaughter whom was living with her mother in GA. Her mom kicked her out and sent her to her fathe

To NJ. Granddaughter wants to live with father. Mother refused to send docs to father. As her maternal grandmother can I ask the court for a law guardian for my Granddaughter. Father can't get birth certificate, his name isn't on it. My daughter wants her daughter to live hard. Job corps... View More

Teresa L. Reichek
Teresa L. Reichek
answered on Aug 23, 2021

Thank you for your question. I am so sorry that you and your granddaughter have to go through this stressful time.

The most direct answer is you can file a grandparents rights application and request formal custody of your granddaughter. Then the court can order your daughter to turn over...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for California on
Q: Dad tested positive for COVID. My daughter is negative. We are 50/50. He wont negotiate his time. What can I do?

We are one week on/off. He wants to pick her up even though his whole household tested positive. She is negative and I don’t want her to get sick. I told him I would give him back his time or use vacation days while I have her till his family gets a negative Covid test. He won’t have any of it... View More

Paramprit Bindra
Paramprit Bindra
answered on Aug 5, 2021

1. Try talking to the father again.

2. You may file a Request for Temporary Emergency (EX Parte) Orders and ask that no visitation to Father.

3. Depending on which county you live in you may consider filing a good cause report, but usually filing one requires immediate threat of...
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2 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Georgia on
Q: Can the other parent restrict the other from visitation based on awaiting Covid results? Court appointed
Michael D. Birchmore
Michael D. Birchmore
answered on Jul 30, 2021

The best response I can provide would be to tell you -- it depends. The law in general is always going to boil down to precisely what has happened and precisely what has occurred in court and precisely what court rulings have been made. Your question assumes that a "yes" or... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Adoption, Child Custody, Child Support and Family Law for Florida on
Q: Can I petition for custody of my grandson? Or at least try to get visitations established thru the court?

I had been raising my 6 1/2 grandson all his life. 100% by myself for the past 5 years with no help from his mother(my daughter) or his dad. 3 weeks ago his father showed up with his name finally on the B.C. & they also called DCF making outrageous false allegations concerning my 16yo son. The... View More

Camila Martin
Camila Martin
answered on Jul 29, 2021

You should consult with an attorney that can assist you after getting more information on your particular case. You could file a Petition for Temporary Custody by Extended Family in Family Court where a Judge will make a determination on whether or not it is in the child's best interest that... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Adoption, Child Custody and Family Law for Florida on
Q: Is it possible for a grandparent to get custody of grandchild if for 6 years they were the ones taking caring him?

I have a 6 1/2 yo grandson I have been caring for and supporting all his life. About 3 weeks ago his father showed up to my door with DCF and with his birth certificate. I was told I had to let him go with his father even though the child doesnt even know him. For the past 3 weeks I have been... View More

Rand Scott Lieber
Rand Scott Lieber pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jul 28, 2021

In family court (sounds like paternity in your case) there are no provisions for grandparent visitation. The only way that you might be able to pursue this is through dependency court. Look for a family attorney who specializes in dependency in your area that might give you a free or low cost... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for Massachusetts on
Q: I am in a custody battle, with potential trial in August. My fiance and I are getting married

I left my ex when he was cheating again and he then moved in, knocked up and married the other woman. 50/50 verbal agreement was working the best possible. 1 year later I took my ex to court because he began withholding our children from me when I told him I was in a serious relationship. We have a... View More

Lillian J. LaRosa
Lillian J. LaRosa
answered on Jul 9, 2021

So, domestic abuse is a serious allegation and you have not stated the outcome of the charge(s) either. The Court would need to find that there is no risk to the children from being around this individual despite your romantic attachment and the Court could potentially grant father custody. Having... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for New York on
Q: Is it possible for an incarcerated father to get court ordered visitation? No paternity has been established

It’s not safe to bring my 1 year old to a jail with the virus going on. He’s threatening to take me to court if I don’t bring my child there.

Lawrence Allen Weinreich
Lawrence Allen Weinreich
answered on Jun 1, 2021

It is possible to get visitation in a prison. However, your first problem is to establish paternity. Without paternity being established the courts will not order any type of visitation or contact.

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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for Louisiana on
Q: I want to shorten the agreed visitation time because my child is not being well taken care of.

The agreed visitation time is two weeks due to the father work schedule. The recent visit took a turn for the worse and I saw how sick and unkept ,without my knowledge, his heat rashes and eczema has progressed, as well as a peaking cold. His father left him to visits his girlfriend and left the... View More

Ellen Cronin Badeaux
Ellen Cronin Badeaux
answered on May 11, 2021

1) Get your child a Covid vaccination if over age 12,

2) if you have a judgment, you will have to hire an attorney to change it and can be held in contempt if you don't follow it in the mean time.

3) if you don't have a judgment, hire a custody lawyer to get one Nd you can...
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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Domestic Violence for New Jersey on
Q: I recently applied for my firearms license in NJ. I was denied due to my "violent and aggressive history."

I've been in a relationship for 6 years now and he had a nasty divorce/custody battle in the first three years. His ex-wife filed multiple false police reports against me thinking that it would sway the custody verdict but she ultimately lost custody. In one of the reports, she coached her... View More

Richard Diamond
Richard Diamond
answered on May 10, 2021

I would contact your local police chief and / or the county prosecutors office and ask for the background search material and the source[s] giving rise to the concerns voiced about you. The less confrontational you are with them, the more likely they will be to provide the information sought (... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Alaska on
Q: My kids were homeschooled by both parents in our separate homes this year. I can't make this accommodation next year.

Our divorce began as COVID 19 started. My ex. and I pulled the kids from in person learning as the schools COVID rates were sorted out. Fast forward to now, we have 1 case every few weeks in our small rural Alaskan village and the school has implemented an effective mitigation plan keeping kids... View More

Phyllis Shepherd
Phyllis Shepherd
answered on Apr 28, 2021

I will assume that you do not have a court order granting either parent sole legal custody. Assuming both of you are equally good parents, courts prefer that equally good parents cooperate for the best interests of the children. Pediatricians and other health care professionals recognize the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Texas on
Q: When will my court date be?

My child’s father is not allowing me to have visitation with my daughter. I plan on filing motion to enforce. After I file the paperwork, how soon will my court date be scheduled for?

Jonathan Tanaka
Jonathan Tanaka
answered on Mar 24, 2021

Thanks for your question!

It really depends. A lot of courts have been significantly affected by COVID. Many hearings here have been pushed out to June/July.

Have you reached out to an attorney yet? I would recommend that you contact a local family law attorney in Katy, TX so the...
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