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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Posts
    1

    Default Coronavirus Exposure

    My question involves a child custody case from the State of: Washington

    My ex and I have a child together who is 12 years old. My ex is now in a relationship with an officer of the law and he goes to see her most weekends and stays their with her and our child across state lines. I am concerned because this officer has much exposure to the public and virus contamination, making exposure to our child more likely. Am I able to object to our child going over most weekends and risking exposure?

    This is not an objection to my ex going, only to taking our child over.

    Nothing is specifically written in our parenting plan about travel across state lines, and of course nothing is written in regards to the virus since it is so new. Section 4.2 of our parenting plan, Major Decisions, is all joint.

    In regards to the risk of exposure, is this something I should be concerned about, and if so, be able to take legal action to maintain our child's lack of exposure?

    I understand if there was a marriage, or if she was the mother, but because there is no legal relationship between his girlfriend and our child, does this make a difference?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    18,340

    Default Re: Coronavirus Exposure

    You can object to anything you want. If your ex doesn't agree you'll have to take him to court to enforce your objection.

    Why not try talking to him about the risk.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Posts
    8,238

    Default Re: Coronavirus Exposure

    Quote Quoting WAlegalhelp
    View Post
    My question involves a child custody case from the State of: Washington

    My ex and I have a child together who is 12 years old. My ex is now in a relationship with an officer of the law and he goes to see her most weekends and stays their with her and our child across state lines. I am concerned because this officer has much exposure to the public and virus contamination, making exposure to our child more likely. Am I able to object to our child going over most weekends and risking exposure?
    A lot of people are essential workers and many of them deal with the public and thus will have higher exposure risk. While I understand your concern, I don't see a court saying that your ex can't take your kid to visit his cop girlfriend simply because her job has contact with the public. That's effectively punishing those who have to do these essential jobs and the people that are close to them, like your ex. Especially considering the next point.

    Quote Quoting WAlegalhelp
    View Post
    This is not an objection to my ex going, only to taking our child over.
    This doesn't make a lot of sense to me. If your ex goes to see her then he has the same exposure risk that concerns you for the kid. And if he contracts the disease then that in turn would put your kid at risk for it. While the risk might be a bit lower if the kid stays home while the ex goes because there is now an extra jump the virus must make, once Dad has it the daily interaction with your kid at home would create a lot of opportunity for your kid to get it. So to really address your concern you'd need to keep your ex from seeing his girlfriend, too, and I think it extremely unlikely that the courts are going to tell him he cannot see her when the only fault of the girlfriend is that she is a cop.

    It would be different if the cop was confirmed to have the disease and your ex intended to take the kid over to see her. But your problem is just with the risk that the cop might get it, and every one has at least some risk that they may get it unless they succeed in completely cutting themselves off from others during the entire duration of the pandemic.

    But the best person to ask what kind of shot you'd have for a restriction on your kid and/or your ex going to visit with the cop given the exact orders in your case is your own attorney.

    Bear in mind too with the restrictions in place for the virus the Washington courts have limited their operations for the time being, so unless you can convince the court that this is truly an emergency you may find that it would take quite awhile to get to trial on this if you wanted to litigate this to get an order limiting your ex.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    16,474

    Default Re: Coronavirus Exposure

    Quote Quoting WAlegalhelp
    View Post
    My question involves a child custody case from the State of: Washington

    My ex and I have a child together who is 12 years old. My ex is now in a relationship with an officer of the law and he goes to see her most weekends and stays their with her and our child across state lines. I am concerned because this officer has much exposure to the public and virus contamination, making exposure to our child more likely. Am I able to object to our child going over most weekends and risking exposure?

    This is not an objection to my ex going, only to taking our child over.

    Nothing is specifically written in our parenting plan about travel across state lines, and of course nothing is written in regards to the virus since it is so new. Section 4.2 of our parenting plan, Major Decisions, is all joint.

    In regards to the risk of exposure, is this something I should be concerned about, and if so, be able to take legal action to maintain our child's lack of exposure?

    I understand if there was a marriage, or if she was the mother, but because there is no legal relationship between his girlfriend and our child, does this make a difference?
    I do understand and sympathize with your concerns. However, TaxingMatters is correct on all points. Its a scary time but when there are two separate parents involved a little more risk has to be accepted.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    273

    Default Re: Coronavirus Exposure

    Provide your child with a kit of hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes and spray (if you can find them), good quality masks and gloves, easy to operate thermometer, etc. He is old enough to understand how to protect himself. Go over the rules of good hygiene that should be followed.

    People I know at risk of contact with infected individuals are very proactive in NOT bringing possible infection into their homes They change clothes outside the residence, putting their clothes immediately into the wash and showering before interacting with family. They are also likely to be checked for infection at the start of their work shift.

    Remember few children have been infected.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Posts
    3,212

    Default Re: Coronavirus Exposure

    Most states are slowly opening up. Parents want to protect their children. Unfortunately, parents cannot protect their children from this virus like they would like to. More people, many of them parents will be returning to work which means the increased risk of exposure to the virus

    Be sure your child has several masks and knows how to wear them. Educate your child on putting the mask on using the ear loops. Also not touching the mask or their face,while they are wearing it. This would be a good time for your child to learn to not touch their face and to frequently wash their hands for at least 20 seconds. How old is your child ?

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