How Does the Illinois Stay-At-Home Order Affect Parenting Time?

 Posted on March 26, 2020 in Family Law

The coronavirus has been in the news for weeks now. The virus, also known as COVID-19, has spread rapidly across the world and the United States. There are currently more than 140,000 cases of Coronavirus in the United States, with over 2,400 deaths to date. The virus has been quickly spreading across the country, and currently, the primary recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are to practice social distancing. This has led many states, including Illinois, to enact stay-at-home orders, requiring residents to only leave their homes for life-sustaining reasons. This has also led many people to wonder how this order will affect their parenting time and parenting plans.

Understanding the Executive Order

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued an executive order on March 20, 2020 that requires all Illinois residents to stay in their homes and avoid social gatherings. The order still allows people to leave their homes for outdoor activities, such as walking the dog or exercising, or for other essential errands, such as going grocery shopping, getting gas, or picking up prescription medications. Travel has also been restricted to essential travel only, though roadways will still be open. Essential travel includes travel to care for the elderly, minors, or other vulnerable people, travel to return to one's residence, and travel for other essential tasks.

Complying With Visitation Orders

The order also states that “travel required by law enforcement or court order, including to transport children pursuant to a custody agreement,” is permitted. This means that your parenting time should not be impacted by the stay-at-home order. However, there are exceptions. If you or your child’s other parent are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, it may be in the children's best interests to forego parenting time with that parent until you have been tested for the virus and have been found negative. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• Fever

• Cough

• Shortness of breath

• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest

• Fatigue

• Aches

• Runny nose

• Sore throat

If you or your children are sick or experiencing symptoms, you should discuss alternative options with your child’s other parent, such as communicating with children over the phone or video chat or adjusting parenting time schedules to make up for time lost during the coronavirus crisis.

Contact a DuPage County Parenting Time Attorney Today

There has been much confusion over how the coronavirus and the governor’s recent order will affect our everyday lives. Currently, Illinois residents are required to stay at home as much as possible, though you should still try to follow your court-ordered parenting time schedule. If you have questions about managing your parenting time during this crisis, or if you believe your parenting time schedule should be modified, call our skilled Wheaton, IL parenting time lawyers. At the Goostree Law Group, we understand how important it is to maintain a sense of stability for your children while protecting their health. Call our office today at 630-364-4046 to schedule a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html

https://www2.illinois.gov/Documents/ExecOrders/2020/ExecutiveOrder-2020-10.pdf

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/symptoms-causes/syc-20479963