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23 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,S eptem ber 23,2021 insidehalton.com Virtual Meetings Over The Phone Here to Help From A Legal Point ofView After practicing Family Law for 32 years, you would think one could no longer be shocked by human behavior. COVID brought out some very real fears and some even greater fabrications. Despite our attempts to explain to clients that there was no previously existing answers amid a world pandemic and to remain calm, many cases were brought toCourt as a result of a children being withheld from their parents/caregivers. Judges came out very strong in the early months of COVID, I believe, in an attempt to discourage parents from withholding children and using COVID as their excuse. Reasoning found in the case law included the following: a general principle that withholding children fromsharing timewithanotherparent in a different home for an indefinite period of time is inconsistent with the overall objective of what is in the best interests of children; and the starting point should always be that existing parenting arrangements and court orders should be followed with necessary modifications to ensure observance with recommended protocols. Notwithstanding, forgoing sometimemayoccurincircumstances of mandatory quarantining following travel, or a parent who as a front line worker may be in a high risk employment situation.TheCourt also clearly sent a message that they would not tolerate persons with children failing to take reasonable precautions. COVID is plenty enough to deal with. If it was safe to head out to Costco, why would anyone assume that sharing time with another parent, in their home, would put a child at risk. Joanne Guarasci is a family lawyer at Ross & McBride LLP in Hamilton and welcomes any inquiries. She can be reached by email at jguarasci@rossmcbride.com. PARENTING DISPUTES AMID COVID − ADVERTORIAL − Joanne Guarasci Family Law jguarasci@rossmcbride.com. 905.526.9800 www.rossmcbride.com www.concretetrimmings.com CONCRETE FREE ESTIMATESESTIMATESESTIMA 905-844-5518 1-888-944-5518 uality At Its Best! Call Fernando 1-888-944-5518 www 1-888-944-5518 •• DRIVEWDRIVEWDRIVEWDRIVEWDRIVEWDRIVEWDRIVEWDRIVEWDRIVEWAAAAAYSYSYSYSYSAYSAAYSA •• FRENCHFRENCHFRENCHFRENCHFRENCHFRENCHFRENCHFRENCH CURBSCURBSCURBSCURBSCURBSCURBSCURBSCURBS •• PPPAAAATIOSTIOSTIOSTIOSTIOSTIOSTIOSATIOSAATIOSAATIOSA •• STEPSSTEPSSTEPSSTEPSSTEPSSTEPSSTEPSSTEPS •• WWWALKWALKWALKWALKWALKWALKWALKWAAAAAYSYSYSYSYSAYSAAYSA •• GARAGEGARAGEGARAGEGARAGEGARAGEGARAGEGARAGEGARAGE FLOORSFLOORSFLOORSFLOORSFLOORSFLOORSFLOORSFLOORSFLOORS ExposEd aggrEgatE (pebble) Camaraderie of Hope members (from left) Tracy Capstick, Todd Thibert, Emmanuelle Meyer, Deborah Everest-Hill, Amanda DaCosta and John Holland - part of a group of professionals supporting local mental health initiatives - held a golf tournament on September 10 in support of the ROCK (Reach Out Centre for Kids). Graham Paine/Metroland GETTING IN THE SWING OF THINGS A STRONGER VOICE We recognize that diversity is the strength of our communities and we are inviting you to share your voice in our publications. INSIDEHALTON.COM/COMMUNITYDIVERSITY