What to expect in your Family Law Case during the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Tuesday, March 24th, 2020
Categories: Blog, COVID-19 Coronavirus

It’s no surprise that over the last couple weeks, the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic  has affected almost every part of our daily lives and this includes the courts and a lot of court cases. So what does this mean for you and your case or any case you are thinking about filing?

The Law Offices of Evan Braunstein knows this can be a confusing and maybe even frustrating time but we are here and ready to help you. Here is a breakdown of what is happening in the Los Angeles  and Orange County courts. Keep in mind, that this information is subject to change and so you should always check the appropriate court website and/or call us to speak with an attorney.

Family Law Courts in Los Angeles County during the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

From March 20th to June 22, 2020, all Los Angeles County courtrooms will be closed except for certain essential functions including but not limited to, domestic violence temporary restraining orders, family law ex parte proceedings, restraining order hearings, and hague international kidnapping proceedings. Additionally, only authorized parties including but not limited to, Judges, Commissioners, Court Staff, Attorneys, Parties, and Witnesses will be allowed into the courthouse. You can however, file documents but as of March 23, 2020, the clerks office is closed to the public and all filings are being submitted via a drop box.

This means that if your hearing was scheduled between March 20th and June 22, 2020, your case has probably been continued. The court will send out a notice of continuance which you will receive in the mail. We know this can be frustrating, especially when planning for time off from work but this is a safety measure that was not taken lightly. If you are looking to file a new case, you can do so by submitting the filings to the drop box. Be sure to visit the Los Angeles County Court website for up to date information.

Family Law Courts in Orange County during the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

From March 17th to June 1, 2020, the Orange County Family Law Courtrooms will be closed. For domestic violence cases with a pending hearing before April 6th, the hearing and temporary restraining orders are being automatically extended for good cause. The only electronic filings being accepted by the Family Law court are for domestic violence restraining orders and emergency child custody requests that involve an imminent threat of injury or death to a child.

This means that if your hearing was scheduled between March 17th and June 1, 2020, your case has probably been continued. If you are looking to file a new case or any additional paperwork in your case, you will not be able to do so until at least June 1, 2020. Be sure to visit the Orange County Court website  for up to date information.

We’re here for you

The Law Offices of Evan Braunstein will remain open for normal business hours during the Coronavirus pandemic. Our work is essential and we will be here to answer your calls and emails and to help you with your family law needs including but not limited to domestic violence restraining orders, ex parte applications, and divorces.