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Are e-commerce exchange zones good for child custody exchanges?

On Behalf of | Jan 29, 2019 | Child Custody |

One of the most challenging aspects of divorce is determining a child custody arrangement. Establishing what days each parent has with the children and the logistics of setting a time and location for exchange can be challenging. Some parents have been utilizing the new e-commerce exchange zones as a meeting place for their child custody exchanges. Is that a good idea?

Due to the rising use of online personal sales, many cities in Connecticut and across the country have started establishing e-commerce exchange zones. These locations provide a safe place for people who have been buying and selling items online to meet and exchange goods. Many have been assaulted or robbed when meeting up with a stranger. Exchange zones were established to provide a well-lit, public, monitored area for these exchanges to take place.

As the popularity of these exchange zones grew, parents started using them as a meeting place for child custody exchanges because of their safety offerings. Some warn, however, that these may not be the best locations for that. While these locations are usually under camera surveillance and regularly patrolled by police, they can still be dangerous. This is especially true in cases of domestic violence. Officers warn that parents should not be lulled into a false sense of security in these cases because cameras, lights and a close proximity to a police station may not be enough to prevent violence in volatile relationships.

A better location for child custody exchanges is a child safety center or exchange center. These centers are designed to provide a location for safe custody exchanges as well as supervised visitations. Safety measures are in place there to minimize the interaction between the parents including making parents arrive at staggered times and the use of separate entrances to prevent contact.

Child custody exchanges can be very emotional for even the most amicable parents, so establishing a safe location for their execution is crucial. With the help of an experienced Connecticut family law attorney, a parent can work with the court to establish acceptable locations and terms for exchange. If an exchange center is not available nearby, the court can determine another acceptable, safe location.