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March 31, 2020 By Lesley Gordon

New Guidance on Compliance with Court Orders amid COVID-19 Outbreak

On Friday 27 March 2020, The Lord President issued further guidance on Court Orders relating to Parental Responsibilities and Rights in light of the current coronavirus crisis.

coloured-bricksWe are living in unprecedented times and the general guidance aims to address concerns about how court orders can be implemented amid the restrictions placed on our everyday lives following the outbreak of COVID-19.

The Lord President reiterates the Government’s guidance that everyone should remain at home except for when shopping for necessities, attending to medical requirements, exercising once per day and, in some limited circumstances, attending work. The Lord President makes it clear that everyone caring for children should abide by these guidelines sensibly and safely.

Arrangements for children

The guidance states that the arrangements for children, whether by court order or formal agreement, should be adhered to as far as possible unless you and your ex-partner have agreed to vary the arrangement. Alternatively, if you have a less formal agreement in place, you should discuss matters with your child’s other parent to determine how to approach the situation.

Factors that you should consider include your child’s current state of health, if any persons in either household are vulnerable and the risk of your child being infected with the virus. The Lord President stresses that the key to reaching an amicable agreement in this challenging and stressful time is good communication.

It is however recognised that it will not be possible for all families to reach agreement in relation to varying arrangements for children and the guidance provides further advice in this regard.

Indirect contact

In the event that contact is rendered impractical due to the current coronavirus pandemic, the Lord President stresses the importance of parents and children maintaining indirect contact. This could be by way of Facetime, Skype, Zoom or Whatsapp, for example. This should be taken into consideration when you are discussing any variation with your ex-partner.

The Lord President’s guidance can be downloaded in full here: https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/coming-to-court/attending-a-court/coronavirus

We are experiencing new restrictions on our everyday lives in this uncertain and unprecedented time. It is a worrying experience for everybody and the added stress of varying the arrangements for your children only adds to this concern. If you are experiencing issues in relation to reaching an agreement with your ex-partner our team of specialist family lawyers can provide you with advice and support.

The BTO Family team are here to help

All members of our family team here at BTO Solicitors are working remotely given the current guidelines issued by the Government. We continue to provide our clients with the same high quality of service as always and we communicate with our clients and third parties through email, telephone and video conferencing to ensure a seamless transition to our new way of working. We are here to help.

As everyone is aware the Covid-19 situation is evolving daily. The information contained in this blog is accordingly correct at the time of writing on 30 March 2020. If you require assistance please do not hesitate to get in touch with us and we will give you up to the minute advice.

More to Read

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Filed Under: Child Contact and Access, Children and Family, Parental Responsibilities and Rights Tagged With: child contact, contact orders, coronavirus, Parental Responsibilities and Rights

Lesley Gordon

Lesley Gordon

Lesley is a Partner at BTO Solicitors LLP. Accredited as a Specialist in Family Law by the Law Society of Scotland, Experienced Collaborative Practitioner, and Accredited Family Law Arbitrator. Read Lesley's professional biography

What our clients say

Splendid work Marjory

Splendid work Marjory, it has been a treat to use BTO and your services.

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After all these years I’m finally free

Thank you so so much Amanda. Actually there’s no words to thank you. I feel great. After all these years I’m finally free. Thank you.

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I have come out of the process a much stronger person

I would have no hesitation recommending Lesley Gordon to anyone I know who needs the services of a divorce lawyer. It was a very positive experience all things considered and I have come out of the process a much stronger person thanks to Lesley.

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Help during this extremely difficult time

Debbie, I would just like to thank you for your help during this extremely difficult time. I really appreciate it.

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I will definitely recommend you…

Hi Marjory, thanks again for being an absolute joy to work with during this unknown and nerve-wracking process. You made me feel calm and reassured throughout (not an easy task). I will definitely recommend you to anyone else looking for representation.

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An Excellent Lawyer…

Beverley thanks for all your assistance with everything. It’s much appreciated and rest assured should I ever need an excellent lawyer in the future you will be the first to be called.

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All starting to come together…

Thanks Marjory, it’s all starting to come together.. thanks to you…:)

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Things have been finalised in about twelve weeks

Amanda, many thanks for seeing all this through for me. I cannot believe that after the best part of two and a half years of frustration (pre BTO), things have been finalised in about twelve weeks.

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We would not have managed this without you

Marjory, I think we can all honestly say that we would not have managed this without you, truly you have been an absolute star and we are all very thankful.

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I left the offices empowered and liberated

Just wanted to say huge thank you to Lesley Gordon. I left the offices empowered and liberated. Not sure any psychologist would have done a better job! On top of her real job.

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Guiding me through a difficult time

Lesley, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your professionalism. Guiding me through a difficult time, also your understanding and empathy as to my personal situation. I would not hesitate in recommending your services to others.

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Approachable and sensitive manner

Marjory, thank you very much for your very approachable and sensitive manner during our meetings.

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Outstanding job…

Marjory… you are doing an outstanding job… Thanks again for your support and expertise in helping me navigate through this horrible situation. I really appreciate it.

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My recent collaborative process

Dear Marjory, I just wanted to say a huge thanks for all your help, advice and counsel throughout my recent collaborative process. You definitely made a difficult process easier for me. Thank you.

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Very approachable manner

Many thanks Marjory for your very approachable manner during our meetings.

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I would recommend you to anyone

Hi Marjory and Keira, I just want to thank you both for taking me through this terrible time in my life. I have learned a lot in the past 3 years with dealing with BTO and I would recommend you to anyone as you have been very fair and honest with all parties concerned.

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I came out of your offices feeling great!

Marjory, thank you for a really positive meeting on Friday. I feel things are a lot clearer in my head – I came out of your offices feeling great!

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Great service

Beverley thank you so much for all your hard work and making things run as smoothly as possible. Great service.

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Help guiding us through a very stressful time

I would like to thank you again for all your work and help guiding us through a very stressful time.

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Their service and support has been excellent

After quite a complex case, I can say that their service and support has been excellent.

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You have smoothed the pathway with your efficiency

Amanda…May I take this opportunity to thank you for your help in these matters. Although I am a resilient person, it has not been easy, but you have smoothed the pathway with your efficiency…

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I would like to thank my exceptional Scottish team

My dear legal team! I have been writing this letter of thanks in my head since about two months ago, and didn’t know it would take a bit longer than expected to actually be able to express my deep gratitude to you ALL for winning this tough and enduring process for me……I would like to… Read more “I would like to thank my exceptional Scottish team”

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Efficient and smooth service

Debbie, could I take this opportunity to thank you for the efficient and smooth service you have provided, and particularly, in our first meeting when you listened to my concerns and really helped explain things and put my mind at ease.

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From our first meeting, I felt confident…

Hi Debbie, I wanted to take this opportunity to pass on my gratitude to you for getting me through this. From our first meeting, I felt confident and assured to be in your safe hands and that never changed during the last 18 months. Whilst it is a great relief to have this finished I… Read more “From our first meeting, I felt confident…”

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I still get to see my kids 3 times a week

Just wanted to say a huge thank you for your help and representation today. It’s such a relief to hear that I still get to see my kids 3 times a week. Also last but by no means least can you pass on my profound gratitude to Counsel who was a star !!!!

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Forever I will be grateful…

Marjory, forever I will be grateful and thankful to you for all the hard work you did for me and my family. Thank you very much again and again. I am so very blessed in life that I found a lovely understanding person like you. Not many lawyers would say go and have a cup… Read more “Forever I will be grateful…”

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I was very pleased with how things went today

Hi Beverley – I would just like to email you to thank you for your services today and commend you on doing a stellar job. I was very pleased with how things went today. The level of professionalism you showed was much to my satisfaction and greatly appreciated. I felt very relaxed at having you… Read more “I was very pleased with how things went today”

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Highly professional and excellent services

Debbie, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the highly professional and excellent services I received from yourself and your team.

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Risk assessed everything

They explained everything to me very clearly and we looked at every permutation and possible outcome and risk assessed everything.

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I won’t hesitate to put them in touch with you

Looking back I wish my ex-wife and I would have gone down the collaborative divorce path but as you know she chose a very different way which ended up being most certainly a longer, more stressful and more expensive path for both of us. Should I ever hear of anyone whose marriage has reached that… Read more “I won’t hesitate to put them in touch with you”

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Your advice has been incredibly helpful

Beverley thank you for everything you’ve done regarding my case and for your assistance in getting the many issues resolved and matters concluded. Your advice has been incredibly helpful and greatly appreciated. Should I require any further assistance, I will be in touch.

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Excellent communications and support

Many thanks for your recent work related to my divorce…..I would particularly like to thank Amanda Richardson for her excellent communications and support.

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I am eternally grateful

I am in no doubt I have made the correct choice by having BTO Solicitors represent me in such a difficult time. I am under no illusion you and your team will continue to do the best for me in future. Many many thanks for today. I am eternally grateful.

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Thanks for all the expert guidance through a trying situation

Hi Marjory, my daughter and her son are doing great. Everything seems to have calmed down. She and her husband finished the mediation process after a couple of visits as they both felt they had to step up to the mark for their son’s sake not for personal reasons. Once again thanks for all the… Read more “Thanks for all the expert guidance through a trying situation”

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Thank you for your professionalism and talent

Thanks Debbie, as always, for your professionalism and talent, it has been a pleasure.

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Wonderful job

I would like to thank you Lesley again for the wonderful job you and your team did for me at a very difficult time in my life.

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Always appreciated being able to rely fully on you and the team

Amanda and Lesley, thank you to you both for all your help, now and during last year, and, as I said before, I have always appreciated being able to rely fully on you and the team at all times. Obviously, a very sad time for me but I am relieved that it is at an… Read more “Always appreciated being able to rely fully on you and the team”

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I certainly feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders

Marjory, I just wanted to say thanks very much for your help right throughout the case. Lately, the ad hoc support has been invaluable and given me the confidence to keep representing myself and not feel pushed into agreeing something I’m not comfortable with. I appreciate how difficult it must be to provide support when… Read more “I certainly feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders”

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Highly professional and meticulous in detail

Highly professional and meticulous in detail. No shortcuts or compromises involved, ensuring all eventualities were covered and underwritten with third-party expertise where appropriate.

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Financial knowledge and gravitas

Lesley has financial knowledge and gravitas. I think she is faultless.

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Our anxieties were greatly alleviated

Lesley, thank you so much for all your help. It turned out to be a very uncomplicated matter in the end and probably not the most interesting for you. However our anxieties were greatly alleviated with your advice and work

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0131 222 2959
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Email
familylaw@bto.co.uk

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We are award winning family and divorce lawyers based in Edinburgh and Glasgow and covering the whole of Scotland, including cross border issues, specialising in divorce and all aspects of child and family law. Learn More

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