CHED 630: COVID, Co-Parents, and Teens - Featuring Alyssa Bach, Shulman & Partners

In an interview with CHED 630, Alyssa Bach, Associate Lawyer at Shulman & Partners LLP, discussed a new pandemic-era trend in Ontario co-parenting: teenagers asking to switch households, sometimes called “parent shopping.” As COVID-19 restrictions, online schooling, and isolation continue, many teens are asking to move to the other parent’s home for reasons that range from looser rules to a change of environment. Alyssa explains how these requests intersect with the legal “best interests of the child” test, why older teens’ wishes carry more weight, and what parents should consider before agreeing to or resisting a move. She also highlights the financial implications, including potential changes to child support, and notes a significant increase in separation inquiries during the pandemic.

"What we're seeing is this new trend emerging from our clients which is dealing with teenagers of divorced parents that are requesting a move to the other parent's home."
— Alyssa Bach, Associate Lawyer at Shulman & Partners LLP

In the interview, Alyssa explains that Shulman & Partners LLP is seeing a clear trend among families with teenagers of divorced or separated parents. More teens are asking to move from one parent’s house to the other, and COVID-19 has changed the reasons behind those requests. While there have always been situations where older children want to live with the other parent, the pandemic has introduced new dynamics, including online schooling, social restrictions, and day-to-day differences in how parents manage safety and structure.

Alyssa notes that some teens are drawn to a household they see as more lenient. One parent may be stricter about COVID-19 protocols, schoolwork, or socializing, while the other is more relaxed or trusting that the teen will manage responsibilities independently. In other cases, after long periods of isolation, teens simply want a change of environment and a fresh start with the other parent. These motivations can make parents question whether a move is truly in the child’s best interests or driven by short-term comfort.

From a legal standpoint, Alyssa emphasizes that a teenager’s views and preferences are an important factor in the best-interest analysis, and the older the child, the more weight those preferences are given. A 17-year-old is treated very differently from a seven-year-old. That said, parents still need to ask whether there is concrete evidence the teen will not do well in the other household and whether there are genuine safety or wellbeing concerns. Alyssa encourages parents to start with open family discussions, ask why the teen wants the change, and explore compromises, temporary breaks, or counseling support before turning to lawyers or the courts.

She also highlights that a change in residence can have serious financial consequences. If a teen moves from the home of the parent who has been receiving child support to the other parent’s home, that support may stop and, in many cases, reverse. For a parent who has relied on those payments for years, this can mean both losing incoming support and beginning to pay support themselves. Alyssa stresses that while child support should not determine whether a move happens, it is an unavoidable consequence that parents must plan for.

Finally, Alyssa confirms that her firm has seen about a 40 percent increase in divorce and separation inquiries, reflecting how isolation, financial strain, and prolonged stress have intensified existing relationship problems. She hopes families can address underlying issues early, whether in their co-parenting relationships or marriages, before conflict escalates into long-term harm.

Listen to the full CHED 630 segment here. 

This media appearance is part of Shulman & Partners LLP’s ongoing contributions to Canadian family law discussions. Explore more of our media features in our In the Media  archive.