Prevent Covid19 being used as an excuse to cease child contact.

Rejected 11 signatures

What the petition asks

We would like the Family Court to clarify its guidance on non-compliance with child arrangement orders during Covid-19. This would prevent the guidance being used cynically by one parent as justification for stopping the child seeing their other parent.

The President of the Family Court issued guidance on how child arrangements orders should be complied with during lockdown. It says a parent may exercise parental rights and stop a child from seeing the other parent. This guidance can be interpreted as a green light for one parent to alienate the other parent from the child’s life and face little prospect of legal consequence if they claim they are acting on genuine health concerns. It is also silent on how to deal with parents shielding.

Why it was rejected

It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.

We can only accept petitions about things the Government or House of Commons are responsible for.

Child Arrangement Orders are a matter for parents and the courts, and not the Government or House of Commons.

If you believe someone has failed to keep to a Child Arrangements Order you can apply for this to be enforced. Guidance on how to do this is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/enforcing-a-child-arrangements-order-cb5

Timeline

2 May 2020	Petition opened for signatures
22 Jul 2020	Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 11

Status Rejected

Rejected 22 Jul 2020

Follow this petition