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Original poster

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

299 replies

PicsInRed · 23/03/2020 20:35

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

What is the legal position here?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
Pixxie7 · 23/03/2020 21:03

He said essential travel so would argue that this would count as essential.

Quartz2208 · 23/03/2020 21:03

Children have 2 homes though so it isnt as clear cut as all that (as long as no self isolation is going on)

I think clarification is needed particularly if not with RP

Original poster
PicsInRed · 23/03/2020 21:03

People will go absolutely mad

To clarify what I wrote above, what I mean is that parents will be beside themselves, turning up at the other house etc.

Without clarification, police time is going to end up wasted and they really don't have time to waste.

OP posts:
Doyoumind · 23/03/2020 21:04

I think children who are with NRPs should be collected by first thing tomorrow and then stay put for 3 weeks.

MyGhastIsFlabbered · 23/03/2020 21:04

My kids don't have enough stuff at their dad's for a prolonged period. I only packed an overnight bag. I can't bear the thought of not seeing them for weeks. Yes I know it's selfish but I'm sat here sobbing. They've never been away from me for more than a fortnight.

Alicenwonderland · 23/03/2020 21:05

I've just emailed my solicitor as we are currently going through proceedings. We have an order in place but Dad wants more contact. He's been good so far, he didn't have them this week as we are self isolating as my daughter is ill. Not sure long term. You can argue contact with their father is essential.

FizzyLimes · 23/03/2020 21:06

In France here too. 50/50.
DS’s dad dropped him on Friday and will collect him this Friday.
I told him to carry a copy of the custody judgement with him

Lockheart · 23/03/2020 21:06

No, @Pixxie7, he said travel to work if essential. Not "essential travel" (which people will have different definitions of, as evidenced by many threads on here).

The four things were:

  • to buy food / medicine
  • exercise once a day
  • travel to work only if essential
  • to provide care or assistance to someone vulnerable
DangerMouse17 · 23/03/2020 21:07

Parents should not be turning up at houses anyway. Everyone is meant to be social distancing and schools closed on Friday...so if the other parent is useless/dangerous, why put the kids there with them over the last few days...exposing them to other people in a second household?! I dont understand why people find it so hard to understand Confused

Absolutepowercorrupts · 23/03/2020 21:07

Do not leave your house unless you need to buy food.
No gatherings of more than 2 people.
Funerals will still be allowed.
This will last for 3 weeks at least.
What is unclear about that.

FizzyLimes · 23/03/2020 21:07

i think children who are with NRPs should be collected by first thing tomorrow and then stay put for 3 week

It will be longer than 3 weeks.
At least 6

CallmeIT · 23/03/2020 21:08

Came on to check exactly this. I view contact as “essential” and planned for it to continue (we share care 5:2 with children due to go there Friday but this announcement changes things somewhat. Different if he lived alone perhaps but he has a GF and her children there as well. I hope there’s a statement about this tomorrow. This is going to be very problematic where the child is currently with the NRP!

JeewizzJen · 23/03/2020 21:09

I'm 50/50 with my ex. If we don't exchange the kids, we can't work... we only live half a mile apart and could easily exchange without having to be in contact with anyone else. I really hope there is some clarification from the government...

ThankYouDebbie · 23/03/2020 21:09

Is 'tahe your child to another house' on the list? No. So it's a no.

Original poster
PicsInRed · 23/03/2020 21:09

Obviously, if houses of worship have been closed (except for funerals), they mean business. But my court order also means business. I'm afraid to breach the lockdown, but I'm also afraid to lose my child for parental alienation. It was a truly nasty case and the Dad continues to position himself for another go. 😢

Boris' own lawyer said the other day that parents he meant mothers would use, and were using, this to defeat contact by the other parent.

I feel damned do, dammed don't.

OP posts:
Seventyone72seventy3 · 23/03/2020 21:10

Pretty sure that children can go back to another parent if they aren't there yet. What would happen if that parent is at work tomorrow? Parents have to be able to sort this out, decide on an arrangement and then stick to it.

SoupDragon · 23/03/2020 21:11

I honestly think that anyone that carries on with transferring children between houses is a bit dim.

Wtf is wrong with people??

browzingss · 23/03/2020 21:11

You can argue contact with their father is essential.

Riiiiiight.

Does that fall into buying necessities such as food or medicine?
Does that fall under a key worker travelling to work?
Does that fall under 1x walk/run/cycle per day?
Does that fall under helping care for a vulnerable person (ie self isolating/disabled/elderly) or attending a medical appointment?

DangerMouse17 · 23/03/2020 21:11

@CallmeIT but what if his GF or her children are infected? Why would you risk it? What if youre child is a carrier and gives it to others in the house? Yes contact is important and it's a shame of course, but better to miss the contact, use skype and stay alive and well.

Bringringbring12 · 23/03/2020 21:12

Essential travel
My children seeing their father and me driving them to his door (he lives alone) is essential travel. End off

Lockheart · 23/03/2020 21:12

Contact might feel essential but it really isn't. Essential at the moment should be defined as whatever you need to survive and whatever keeps the country running. Contact with both parents for a child does not fall under either of those umbrellas, unfortunately.

If you live close enough to be able to exchange on your daily walk then I suppose you could, but you're still exposing yourself and your child to two households of people when the aim is to reduce everyone's exposure across the board.

Lockheart · 23/03/2020 21:13

@Bringringbring12 he didn't say essential travel, he said travel to work, only if essential.

motheroreily · 23/03/2020 21:14

We have a 50/50 arrangement and a court order. Our child is with me tonight. I hope there's some clarity tomorrow.

astraea · 23/03/2020 21:15

My dc (7 & 16) are due to be picked up by me from their dads tomorrow. I will be collecting them . My 7yo would not cope from being separated from me for a prolonged period of time.

I will drive there. Dd 16 will come out to the car with ds, then drive straight home

Yetanotherbloominnamechange · 23/03/2020 21:15

@ did he say you could leave the home to care for a vulnerable person? No. I don’t think he did, did he?

I suspect that the small print details will be refined over time. Given the extent to which we will all be curtailed, the child going from one family to another will still represent a massive decrease in infections.

If you can go to the supermarket, you can hand your kids over.