Phone: 913-257-3110
UPDATED 7/13/2020
Numerous orders have been issued in Kansas and Missouri. Our office is attempting to compile orders and other guidance as they are brought to our attention. Please call or text (913) 257-3110 to schedule a phone or video conference to address your specific questions.
The Johnson County Bar Association is also posting orders on their website. Their updates include information pertaining to municipal courts and other courts in the Kansas City Metro Area.
Information for Missouri courts is available here.
REMOTE HEARINGS
Although Johnson County District Court began a phased re-opening, they have announced there will be NO IN-PERSON PROCEEDINGS AT THE COURTHOUSE DURING THE WEEK OF JULY 13, 2020. The Clerk’s Office IS NOT currently open to the public, and should be contacted by phone/e-mail/online means.
Johnson County has adopted special video conferencing procedures that will be in effect for the near future. Please note that some judges continue to proactively reschedule non-urgent hearings, while others are trying to hear cases as originally scheduled. Rules are available here: JoCo_District_Court_-_Remote_Hearing_Processes
Other counties are setting their own procedures, which vary from court to court and even judge to judge. If you have a case on file in Missouri or Kansas, please be sure to contact the specific division to which your case is assigned. Do not assume that a hearing has been canceled or rescheduled without confirmation. The division number should be listed on copies of court documents that you have received. Many courts have contact information on their websites, or you may call the clerk’s office and ask to be transferred.
Many divisions are contacting attorneys and parties by e-mail. Be sure that the Court has your correct phone number and e-mail address and that you are checking your voicemail and e-mail regularly. Check your spam or junk folders often in case a message is not delivered to your inbox.
PARENTING TIME
Johnson County Family Law Courts have provided the guidance below (which we anticipate other Kansas courts will follow). Cass County, Missouri has also issued a similar order regarding parenting time, and we expect other Missouri courts will follow. Parents should follow their regular parenting time schedule as closely as possible and work together as necessary, with certain exceptions.
03.26.2020 Cass County- Administrative Order 2020-0326
03.25.2020- JOCO Family Court Guidance
Paragraph 11 on Page 3 of Johnson County AO 20-06 states: “All in supervised visitation or exchange in any family law case previously court-ordered to be conducted by court personnel or a third-party provider is suspended until further order of this Court. The judge ordering supervised visitation may permit the use of remote supervised visitation. Exchanges shall still occur without regard for the suspension of supervised exchange programming. Exchanges are to occur in another safe manner, such as: alternate agreed exchange supervisors, safe public place exchanges, curbside exchanges, or the use of online check-in tools. This Order does not affect any other parenting plans.”
The Administrative Order only suspends supervised parenting time through Court Services or other court-approved providers, such as the Layne Project. The Layne Project’s updated information may be found below. Parents who utilize supervised exchanges but not supervised parenting time are still expected to exchange according to their regular parenting time schedule, although they will be required to make different arrangements to coordinate the exchange.
03.23.2020 Layne Project- SERVICES OFFERED DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC AMENDED
Court Services and other third party providers are circulating the guidelines below.
Guidelines for separated parents
Please note that the Johnson County Emergency Public Health Order directs everyone to follow valid court orders while the “stay at home” order is in effect.
KANSAS
The Kansas Supreme Court has copies of orders, links to district court websites, and additional links to information here: https://www.kscourts.org/About-the-Courts/Court-Administration/OJA/Kansas-Courts-Response-to-Coronavirus-(COVID-19).
MISSOURI
Information for Jackson County is available here: https://www.16thcircuit.org/covid-19-information.
The Missouri Supreme Court is publishing updated information here: https://www.courts.mo.gov/pandemic/.
Contact the Overland KS Divorce and Mediation Attorneys at Sarah Carmody Law, LLC at 913-257-3110 today!
The Sarah Carmody Law, LLC provide legal services for families located in these areas: Shawnee, Overland Park, Olathe, Leawood, Mission, Kansas City, Lenexa and Johnson County. Let us help you today.
