As the summer season comes to a close, schools reopen, and the COVID-19 Pandemic continues, parents have many questions regarding how their child custody case will be impacted. With children beginning to interact with others in school and extracurricular activities, many parents are hoping that a COVID-19 vaccine arrives as soon as possible. In the meantime, parents have many questions about how child custody courts will view the administration of an upcoming COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 Vaccine – A Legal Custody Decision in Bucks County Child Custody Cases
The decision of whether to administer the COVID-19 vaccine for your child is a legal custody decision. Legal custody in Pennsylvania governs medical, educational, and religious decisions for your child. If you currently have a child custody order in Pennsylvania requiring shared legal custody, then you must obtain the consent of your child’s other parent prior to having your child vaccinated for an eventual COVID-19 vaccine.
Obtaining Consent for COVID Vaccine from Other Parent in PA Child Custody Cases
There are many strategies to obtain consent for the vaccine from your child’s other parent. These include submitting a request, in writing, that your child receive the vaccine when it becomes available. To help strengthen your position, it may be prudent to have your child’s primary care physician determine whether it is safe for your child to receive an eventual vaccine. It is always worthwhile to have an honest, straightforward conversation with your child’s other parent regarding the pros and cons of a major medical decision, such as administering the COVID-19 vaccine.
Best to talk to Bucks County Child Custody Lawyer Re Disagreement on Medical Issues
Unfortunately, parents cannot always agree on major medical decisions. In the event you are unable to reach an agreement with your child’s other parent regarding an eventual COVID-19 vaccine, or any other legal custody issue, you should speak with a child custody attorney in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Understandably, the COVID-19 Pandemic has created a significant amount of issues that parents must deal with on a daily basis. Having an experienced child custody attorney in your corner will help guide you through this difficult process and achieve the best possible result for your child.