The COVID-19 pandemic is growing rapidly and changing our lives, work, and how we interact with each other. It can be scary, frustrating and worrisome for many of us. However, we believe this situation can bring out the best of who we are as an individual, as well as community.
General information and some guidance for families going through divorce, child custody and domestic violence during the Coronavirus crisis:
What is COVID-19?
It is a virus identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in China. On Feb 11th the World Health Organization (WHO) officially named the disease as Coronavirus.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for confirmed Coronavirus cases, reported illness has ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death. Common signs of infection include fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. CDC believes at this time that symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure.
It spreads from person to person. For more information please see the CDC page, how it spreads.
Unfortunately, currently there is no vaccine for this virus. To protect yourself and your loved ones stay home when you are sick, wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching your face, avoid close contact with people who are sick, cover your cough with your inner elbow or sleeve and sneeze with tissue, clean and disinfect frequently, consider getting flu shot.
For any additional info, please visit CDC.
Important Resources
For up-to-date information, visit:
- The U.S. Centers for Diseases and Prevention (CDC)
- The World Health Organization (WHO)
- The U.S Department of State
- Find videos about the coronavirus disease on CDC’s YouTube channel
- Department of Homeland Security
- California Dept of Public Health
How to talk to your children about Coronavirus:
Children and parents can get anxious, worried and scared. However, there are steps that as parents we can take to keep our children safe. We should reassure our children that everyone is working hard to keep them healthy and away from danger. Talking to your children and teaching them positive preventive measures and giving them a sense of some control over their risk of infection can help reduce their anxiety and fear.
Please visit the links below for guidelines:
Important legal resources and links you might find useful at this time:
Have you been considering divorce for a while but have been afraid to move forward for monetary reasons? Now may be the time to trigger the date of separation while the markets are low. Call us today to find out if this is right for you. (951) 463-5594
If monetary issues have been holding you back from filing for divorce, the time is now. Contact us to see if this is right for your case. (951) 469-5594
At Home Learning:
The public’s health and safety of our children are paramount to us and all educational partners. In the light of school closure there are some resources for “At Home Learning” available digitally.
Are your Kids out of school because of the coronavirus? Are you experiencing childcare problems? Call us. We can help! We can either connect you with a childcare provider looking for work or negotiate a new custody schedule if that would help. We are working around the clock to develop a multitude of resources connecting our clients to the things they need most right now.
Call Us Today (951) 463-5594
Domestic Violence
With more and more people quarantined at home, you need to know the ONE detail that takes normal marital discord and makes it domestic violence and how to easily avoid it. 👇🏼
If the kids see an argument, an altercation, a fight, this is the ONE detail that almost every time the Judge will determine Domestic Violence has occurred. To lessen the chance for a domestic violence finding in Family court, make sure your kids are completely shielded from marital conflict.
Domestic violence can be physical or psychological, and it can affect anyone of any age, gender, race or sexual orientation. Women are most often the battered party in a violent relationship, although men are victimized as well. More that 38 million American women have been victims of domestic violence. There is a way to fight back and free yourself from the fear and control of dangerous, narcissistic abuser. Reach out to National Domestic Violence Hotline for help.
Their advocates are available 24/7 at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) in more than 200 languages. All calls are free and confidential.
National Sexual Abuse Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
Domestic Violence Organization In California
With people working from home and kids out of school, pressures rise, which makes it ripe for domestic violence. Make sure you protect yourself from a false domestic violence allegation. Click to download our free guide on what to do if you find yourself in an altercation with your significant other. (Pro tip: download BEFORE you need this!)
Abuses Of The Domestic Violence System:
False accusations can occur in domestic violence cases. An accuser with malice and bad intentions can easily take advantage of the domestic violence response system. The system is designed to respond quickly to ensure the safety of victims. The accused is often put out of his or her home and cut off from access to the children. Meanwhile, the accuser/victim is given a victim’s advocate. The advocate’s role is not to investigate or doubt the accuser. Part of the role of the advocate is to support the victim. It is not hard for a false accuser to gain a lot of power through a false domestic violence allegation. The system can be easily played by someone with bad intent.
Confronting Gender Bias
The system believes that it makes objective, fair and rational, gender-neutral decisions. Unconscious bias still exists in this world and the legal system is not immune from unconscious bias. This bias is fueled in part by the fact that more women are reported as victims of domestic violence than men.
What are the signs of a false allegations?
- Lack of physical injury when the false allegation would suggest there should be injury
- Inconsistent statements
- The accuser has something to gain
- Lack of timely reporting when one would expect there to be
- Lack of a timely report to law enforcement when one would expect there to be
- Lack of witnesses when one would expect there to be
- The accuser hates or has animus toward the accused
- The allegations are retaliatory in some way
- Prior threats to retaliate with domestic violence allegations
Protection Yourself Against Allegations Of Abuse
Here are few tips:
- Avoid Conflict. In the context of domestic abuse, it can be truly said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. When there is marital conflict, particularly when a divorce is threatened, it is important to de-escalate any conflict.
- Use Witnesses. When a divorce is threatened, it is always a good idea to have independent witnesses available when events are planned that could possibly result in conflict. Even after a conflict a witness may play a role by observing the environmental condition, whether any obvious injuries were suffered, or the demeanor of parties involved.
- Expose Factual Inconsistencies. Once domestic abuse has been alleged, a primary goal would be to expose inconsistencies in the allegations made. The strongest inconsistency would be having a strong alibi for the time in question.
- Expose Behavioral Inconsistencies. After domestic abuse has been alleged, it may be critical to point out that the victim acted inconsistently from the way a victim would have reacted. How much time elapsed between the alleged incidents of abuse and the complaint filed? Did the victim initiate friendly contact after the abusive incidents that are alleged? Did the victim allow parenting time after the abusive incidents alleged? Did the victim contact the police, parents, friends or any other individuals at the time or shortly after the alleged incident of abuse occurred? Who did the person call after the alleged incidents of abuse occurred?
- Expose Motivation to Fabricate. Any evidence that an alleged victim had a motive to lie is valuable.
With everyone staying in, tensions can arise within the household. Please keep in mind how children can react and experience these moments. If faced with divorce or custody issues, these instances could impact your case. Please contact us if you have any questions or need to file your case.
Contact Us (951) 463-5594
Economic Impact Of The Coronavirus:
The odds of slipping into a recession are increasingly likely as the global Coronavirus outbreak puts acute stress on the U.S. economy. That could be bad news for American workers who may lose jobs by the millions in a downturn. For some the financial impact could be especially devastating.
Here are few resources to help you on how to deal with economic hardship:
If Covid-19 has affected your income in any way, call us immediately to file for a modification in support. Hurry, before the court closes and doesn’t accept filings anymore. We need to preserve the date of retroactivity by getting it filed!
Important Resources For Business Owners:
As we deal with this COVID-19 virus on a federal, state, county, and city level, I would like you all to know that this is NOT the end of the world. We will get through this TOGETHER!
The 2nd District is working with all the members of the Board of Supervisors, our Riverside County Public Health Officer, Cameron Kaiser, M.D. and various county departments to update you on the latest developments as they come in.
Public Health Update – 2nd District
There are currently 16 confirmed cases within Riverside County (as of this email) and we want our residents to be vigilant as we maneuver through these mandates from the federal and state levels.
As of Wednesday, March 18th, 2020, the first cases of COVID-19 confirmed in western Riverside County are a man over 70 years old from Corona and a man under 50 years of age from Eastvale.
Information is constantly changing so we want to encourage you to please reference the website links below for the latest updates within Riverside County.
Main Public Health Website – Click Here
COVID-19 Testing Availability Information – Click Here
Guidance for College and Universities – Click Here
Guidance for Schools and School Districts – Click Here
Homeless Resources – Click Here
Additional Community Services HOTLINE – Click Here
Attention: Business Assistance For COVID-19
On March 16th, the U.S. Small Business Administration issued a disaster declaration officially designating Riverside County eligible for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.
Disaster loans can provide vital economic assistance to small businesses and private non-profit organizations to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.
These low interest loans can be made for up to $2 million and may be used to pay for operations such as fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could not be paid due to the impact of COVID-19.
- The interest rate is 3.75 percent for small businesses; 2.75 percent for private non-profit organizations.
- Long-term repayments to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years.
- Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at:
SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955
Email: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
The deadline to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan is December 16, 2020.
Riverside County Economic Development Assistance
Please also reference rivcobizhelp.org as a source for business assistance programs and resources. Many companies such as Southern California Gas Company, Southern California Edison, T-Mobile and AT&T are providing relief assistance, such as late payment waivers and unlimited data plans to businesses impacted by COVID-19.
For more information, please contact the Business Center at: (951) 955-0493
General Tips
The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases include:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a face mask.
- CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
- Face masks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to each other. The use of face masks is also crucial for health care workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.