Wait a second ... how do we do custody exchanges?!

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Nothing in Boris' message about travel to exchange children for contact.

What is the legal position here?

We live too far apart to go to a shared local supermarket.

We have a court order too! I don't know what to do!!!

They NEED to clarify this. Specifically.

Really need answers to this

No point in worrying about the letter of the law. Ask yourself do you want your family to have more chances to get sick and more chances to infect others.

The government won't have even thought of every situation yet. So you have to say "is there any possible way I can avoid this extra contact"

I would have thought that this announcement trumps any court order, so there wouldn’t be penalties for not following the court order as you have an exceptional reason.

Hopefully they clarify this ASAP

Thank god my son is currently with me. Don’t know whether he’ll add on about contact arrangements but for three weeks I think they should default to RP

I think a lot of people are going to be using this as an excuse to stop contact.

For everyone’s safety there shouldn’t be any custody exchanges.

The DC will be staying here for the next 3 weeks. No court order here but surely no court would expect anyone to break this lockdown.

It’s not an “excuse” is it? It’s absolutely a reasonable decision.

I have a new consistent cough and sore lungs so we were on 14 day self-isolation anyway, and no contact. So there will just be no contact until things are clarified. He clearly said ‘you should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home’, at least according to the Guardian. I agree this poses a problem for 50/50 shared care arrangements.

Also wanting clarity on this. Fortunately I have DC with me now but I'm not sure what ex will have to say about not having contact.

I wouldn't worry too much about court orders. These are exceptional circumstances.

I've got a court order in place too. After tonight's announcement I'm planning on keeping DD home with me for the duration we're in lockdown.
It's far from ideal, but she will Skype her father regularly.
I can't see there being any repercussions from a legal perspective, I'm following instruction from the Prime Minister to stop travel and contact between households, and at the same time potentially saving lives.

I was really scared this would happen last week when mine was with Dad. Was so relieved to pick up.

To those of you on the opposite side of the fence, I am so, so sorry.

I’m a nurse ex police so my kids need to go between us so not sure if that will be an issue but I have to go to work so does he.
He was quite unclear and I don’t think what he said will make the people who aren’t staying at home stay at home

I would assume that kids are staying with whichever parent they are tonight until lock down is over.

You don't. Everyone stays put. It's not difficult.

People will go absolutely mad.

Better that, than thousands dying surely?

The point is to remove contact between households. If you are a responsible parent you will put the health of your child and others first and make the short-term sacrifice, and facetime etc instead. So whichever parent the child is with now, they need to remain there with them.

Kids with me right now but stressing cos their dad will really kick off if they don't go.

He was quite unclear and I don’t think what he said will make the people who aren’t staying at home stay at home

I thought this was the clearest message yet. If people don't stay at home, they will be fined. How much clearer did you need?

DD is with her dad. DD is with me as he refuses to go to his dad's as he was abusive. What on earth do I do? She is barely safe there for a weekend let alone for 3 weeks in a pandemic.

And they will be apart for 3 weeks

DC's happen to be at mine tonight.
Their dad and I have just spoken and the agreement is that they are staying here.

Teenagers, though, so can understand the situation.