COVID-19 And Family Law
In-Office COVID-19 Safe Consultations
We are providing in-office consultations during this shelter-in-place time. We understand that it is important to meet your prospective attorney face-to-face and we have established safeguards to allow that meeting to take place. Our office is compliant with all CDC recommendations including the requirement of face masks, maintain 6-foot social distancing and provision of hand sanitizer. Further, we continue to keep our establishment clean and disinfected.
There will be no exchange of documents or credit cards during your consultation. We do not accept cash during this time.
Please contact us to schedule your COVID-19 Safe In-Office Consultation.
Telephone Appointments & Secure Video Conferences
Our office utilizes all current technological advancements and can handle all legal matters from consultation through judgment using remote services. We are providing all legal services while the shelter-in-place orders are in effect and will continue to provide all services in compliance with the State’s evolving status. We are available by telephone and videoconference. Our office has a secure teleconference connection to ensure your protection during the videoconference. Further, in response to this economically challenging time, we are offering free consultations for you to review your family law concerns with one of our dedicated family law attorneys.
Please contact us to schedule your telephone or secure video Consultation.
COVID-19 & Family Law
The attack of the Coronavirus global pandemic has raised many unforeseeable family law issues. This page is dedicated to addressing each family law issues as it is raised during this COVID-19 health crisis.
The goal is to provide public information for commonly asked questions that have been specifically affected by the current government orders and related COVID-19 protections.
Current Court Cases, Filings, And Hearings
Our office provides representation for matters in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The Courts have been generally closed to the public since shortly after the State’s shelter-in-place orders started. The Family Court is only open for emergency requests relating to domestic violence and the health and safety of individuals only.
- Riverside County Court’s current COVID-19 information can be found here.
- San Bernardino County Court’s current COVID-19 information can be found here.
Court Hearings (Current):
The Court has automatically continued all hearings that were scheduled during the months of March and April. We have attempted to submit stipulations on hearings to control the newly set dates; however, the Courts are now continuing the hearings to randomly selected dates and providing notice to the parties after the March and April dates have passed.
Court Hearings (Future):
We are unsure how the Court’s procedures will be affected by COVID-19 when they can fully reopen. We are anticipating that the Courts will try to provide remote services and possibly have video court hearings to limit courthouse contact. We do know that facial coverings will be required to enter the courthouses until the Court provides us information terminating that rule. Regardless of the path the Court follows, our office is fully equipped to provide in-person, telephone, and video representation at all family law court hearings in Riverside and San Bernardino county courts.
Court Filings:
We are continuing to submit documents to the Court; however, we have been informed that only stipulations and emergencies are being processed at this time. Other documents are being submitted into a queue, being marked received and will be processed when the court staff returns. We are hopeful that the receipt date will be able to be used as the filing date for documents; however, this is one of the unexpected issues that the Court is currently trying to evaluate and resolve. Nevertheless, if you have child or spousal support issues that need to be changed immediately, we suggest submitting the document into the court queue as soon as possible.
Divorce During The COVID-19 Pandemic
If you are contemplating divorce or are already involved in a dissolution, please read our blog post regarding divorce during the Coronavirus global health crisis. This blog post discusses the issues relating to commencing and participating in a dissolution action during this unprecedented time.
Co-Parenting During The COVID-19 Pandemic
Our office receives calls daily about issues and concerns related to child custody and visitation. We have dedicated multiple blog posts to the issue of co-parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please review the following articles regarding custody and visitation during this global health scare. We will continue to update these sections with new concerns as they are raised.
- Co-Parenting During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- AFCC & AAML Joint Statement of Guidelines for Separated Parents during the COVID-19
- Child Custody & Homeschooling during COVID-19
Child Support & Spousal Support Orders
If you have a current order for child support or spousal support, it is still valid even if your income has been affected by the shelter-in-place orders and the closures of many businesses. If you have become unemployed or your hours reduced, you should immediately request a modification of your current order. Problematically, the courts are not accepting filings to modify child or spousal support at this time. Please read our blogs on this issue and contact our office to schedule an appointment to discuss your case with a certified family law specialist or dedicated family law attorneys.
- Child Support & Spousal Support Concerns during the COVID-19 health pandemic.
- What do you do about child & spousal support during the viral outbreak?
- Child Support & Stimulus Payments
Stimulus Payments Under The Cares Act
Millions of people are receiving a stimulus check from the government under the CARES Act; however, if you have divorced since your last joint tax filing or if you owe back child support, please read the following articles:
Contact Us
If you need to discuss and family law issues including divorce, custody, visitation, child support, or spousal support and how they have been affected by COVID-19, please contact our office.