Guidance for managing shared parenting during COVID-19 alert levels

Updated 14 October 2020 at 11.55am

Parenting arrangements: New guidance for COVID-19 Alert Level 1

The settings for parenting arrangements at Alert Level 1 are that parenting arrangements continue as normal, while still following public health measures.

You can find information and measures to stay safe and well on the COVID-19 website.

COVID-19 website(external link)

Questions & answers for shared parenting

I’ve got a Family Court hearing coming up for my Protection Order/Parenting Order - what do I need to do?

Information about the Family Court under different COVID-19 Alert Levels can be found at Courts of New Zealand COVID-19 protocols.

Courts of New Zealand COVID-19 protocols(external link)

Please call 0800 COURTS (0800 268 787) if you need other information about courts.

I need legal advice – how do I get it?

Lawyers are able to provide advice during each COVID-19 Alert Level. They will do this while following the relevant public health measures.

Legal aid is available. A list of legal aid lawyers is on the Ministry of Justice website:

Find a legal aid lawyer(external link)

You may be eligible for assistance from a Community Law Centre. You should phone them first, as a range of working practices are now in place across the country to comply with the relevant public health measures. You can find their contact details on the Community Law website:

Community Law: Our Law Centres(external link)

What happens if we can’t agree how to manage the parenting arrangements? Will the Family Court hear the case?

Information about the Family Court under different COVID-19 Alert Levels can be found at the Courts of New Zealand COVID-19 protocols website.

Courts of New Zealand COVID-19 protocols(external link)

Please call 0800 COURTS (0800 268 787) if you need other information about courts.

Lawyers are working and may be able to assist you. They will do this while following public health measures.

We were doing Family Dispute Resolution, will that keep happening?

These services will be available but the way it is delivered will change, including doing some of the programme remotely by phone or web-based. Check with your provider for ways they can help during each COVID-19 Alert Level.

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This page was last updated: 14th October 2020