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Government Say children CAN Move Between Parent’s Homes in this Period

Monday March 30, 2020

The Government has clarified, after some confusion, that children can move between the homes of their parents during this current period.

 

The Regulations set out reasonable excuses to leave your home, which include:

‘in relation to children who do not live in the same household as their parents, or one of their parents, to continue existing arrangements for access to, and contact between, parents and children, and for the purposes of this paragraph, “parent” includes a person who is not a parent of the child, but who has parental responsibility for, or who has care of, the child;’

 

What does this mean for parents?

This makes clear that children can move between their parents’ homes, or between the homes of those who hold parental responsibility for them.

 

If, therefore, you have a child arrangement order in place, which provides for your child to either live with you or spend time with you for part of the week, this should continue.

 

Likewise, if there is no order in place, but you have agreed arrangements with your ex-partner, you should continue to adhere to those arrangements.

 

This advice does not however override the advice to self-isolate if you are showing symptoms of Covid-19.  For further guidance regarding coronavirus, please visit:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

 

If you usually meet in a public place for handovers or a third party assists with the handovers, during this time you may have to vary the arrangements.  Likewise, if contact takes place in the community or a contact centre, consider other options that still allow some contact to take place; for example, Zoom, Facetime and Skype.

 

If you have any doubts about the arrangements for your child, contact Stacy Fox on 01204 377600 if you need further information.