News and Views
Media Coverage

Divorce During COVID-19 in Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills Courier

The breakup of a family is trying under normal circumstances. But, these are no ordinary times. In an era of Stay at Home orders, social distancing and business shutdowns, child custody, support orders and property division are taking on added complexity. The Courier spoke with two prominent local family lawyers about the unique issues wrought by COVID-19.

[…]

Initial Custody Conflicts “When the Stay at Home orders first took effect, several of our clients encountered disagreements about what rules should be in place in the children’s respective homes. Certain clients wanted to change the existing custody arrangements, including to have longer (or shorter) custodial periods and include new orders that detailed what should take place in the other parent’s home regarding safety,” said Kristina Royce, a partner and co-chair of the Matrimonial and Family Law Practice Group of Blank Rome in Century City.

[…]

“We explain to our clients that they have to demonstrate irreparable harm to the child or children before a custodial order can be changed, and the courts are not inclined to micromanage what takes place in the parent’s respective homes. Courts are handling only essential cases at the present time and are not scheduled to reopen until late June 2020,” said Royce.

"Divorce During COVID-19 in Beverly Hills," by Ana Figueroa was published in the Beverly Hills Courier on May 7, 2020.