Coronavirus Concerns & Custody Battles in South Florida
The coronavirus has brought a whole new type of family law dispute into relevance when it comes to custody issues. A number of doctors, first responders, and other healthcare workers here in Florida have found themselves subject to emergency court orders, whereby they can very quickly lose shared custody of their children simply due to their profession until the pandemic is over. Take one doctor in South Florida who was the subject of an NBC Miami story and whose child’s father requested and received an emergency order granting him sole custody entirely related to the COVID-19 outbreak even though she tested negative for the coronavirus because the judge deemed that it was necessary to “protect the best interests of the minor child,” including the child’s “safety and welfare.” While that same doctor was able to successfully appeal the emergency order, winning a return to their 50-50 shared custody arrangement while they await a final ruling, she and many others who are divorced parents are either in constant panic or busy fighting these orders, suffering through disrupted lives while they try to help those battling the virus during their workday and custody rights during their personal time. Under What Conditions Are Judges Granting Emergency Orders Like These? Healthcare professionals on the receiving end of these orders have been shocked that judges would grant them without knowing any details regarding what the healthcare parent’s work environment is like, what precautions are being taken to make sure that the virus is not contracted and brought home (i.e. personal protective equipment, negative tests, stripping and washing before entering the home, etc.), what the negative psychological effects on the child could be, etc. Taking Every Precaution to Protect Yourself & Your Family If You Work On the Frontline For those who are healthcare professionals that could possibly come into contact with the virus, or who live with or share children with professionals who do, the American Medical Association shared some tips on how to protect your family from COVID-19 from Dr. Rupp, who has published hundreds of articles on infectious disease control. Most of what Dr. Rupp recommends involves taking precautions at work, including: Making sure that anyone who comes in is immediately taken to be evaluated and screened for any fever or respiratory disease Using the right respiratory protection, including droplet protection, gloves, gowns, and N95 or other protection Minimizing patient contact, where possible, through telehealth or other electronic means Utilizing engineering solutions, such as intubation boxes, to decrease the risk of personnel coming into contact with infected secretions, where possible Providing personnel with personal protective equipment, including masks, gowns, gloves, and respirators Instructing everyone to wash their hands and avoid touching their face In terms of the transition between work and home, Dr. Rupp also suggests that doing the following can be helpful: Changing your clothes immediately before entering your home and placing those clothes through the normal laundry Washing your hands as soon as you get home Avoiding sharing toothbrushes, utensils, bowls, cups, and plates According to these experts, there is no information to indicate that if you are using gloves and gowns at work, that there are any concerns about bringing the virus home on clothing. If You Have Any Questions or Concerns, Contact Our Florida Family Law Attorneys If you or a loved one has any questions or concerns about a family law issue at this time, our Tampa family attorneys are available to make sure that your concerns are addressed. Contact us at HD Law Partners today to find out how we can help. Resource: nbcmiami.com/news/local/coronavirus-concerns-lead-to-custody-battle-for-south-florida-doctor/2218466/ ama-assn.org/practice-management/physician-health/how-doctors-can-keep-their-families-safe-after-providing-covid ama-assn.org/practice-management/physician-health/how-doctors-can-keep-their-families-safe-after-providing-covid Family Law Issues in The Time of the Coronavirus Posted in Child Custody | No Comments » Connect with us Archives May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 July 2025 June 2025 January 2025 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 November 13 Categories Alimony Appellate Arbitration Auto Accidents Auto Insurance Business Corporate Business Insurance Law Child Custody Child Support Criminal Law Divorce Family Law FEMA Insurance Payments Florida’s Mandatory 2‑Hour Legal Professionalism CLE: Foreclosure Defense Fort Myers Hurricane Insurance Attorney General Guardianship HD Law Partners Service HOA/Property Management Homeowners Association Homeowners Insurance Hurricane Claims Hurricane Insurance Insurance Bad Faith Insurance Claims Insurance Defense Insurance Litigation Landlord Tenant Law Enforcement Liability Loan Modifications Mold Water Damage Parental Rights Paternity Personal Injury Premises Liability Law Prenuptial Agreements Private Security Property Distribution Property Owner Law Sarasota Insurance Litigation Attorney Slip Fall Tampa Business and Corporate Attorneys tampa family attorney Tampa Insurance Attorneys Timeshare Timesharing Uncategorized HD Law Partners is proud to be your trusted full-service law firm Quick Links Property & Casualty Business & Corporate Litigation Family Law Contact Us Careers Get In Touch 2002 North Lois Avenue Suite 510 Tampa, FL 33607 813-253-5333 Contact Us