570 News: Co-Parenting & COVID - Featuring Laura Paris, Shulman & Partners

With Christmas approaching, many separated and divorced parents are trying to finalize holiday schedules while also navigating COVID-19 restrictions. In this interview with 570 News, Laura Paris, associate lawyer at Shulman & Partners LLP, discusses how traditional parenting arrangements can become harder to manage when government rules limit household mixing and families do not share the same comfort level around risk. She explains that pandemic-related disputes often intensify emotions, and that last minute decisions can quickly turn into conflict. Holiday parenting time can be one of the most sensitive parts of a separation even in ordinary years and with shifting public health guidance, parents may need clearer communication, written agreements, and practical compromise to protect children’s stability and safety.

“If you leave it to be decided by the court, the court is going to follow the government directives to a T, because that’s the only guidance we have in terms of figuring out what the best way to deal with this and what’s in the best interest of the child, which includes maintaining the child’s safety.”
— Laura Paris, Associate Lawyer, Shulman & Partners LLP

Laura explains that holiday schedules are often challenging for separating parents, and the pandemic adds a fresh layer of complexity. The core issue is no longer just which parent gets which dates, but whether a proposed plan fits within current government protocols and the family’s shared understanding of safety.

A key starting point, she notes, is recognizing that children in separated families effectively belong to two households. That practical reality matters when restrictions limit how many households can gather. When parents try to blend holiday plans with extended family visits, they may run into hard limits that do not easily accommodate a child moving between homes.

Laura emphasizes communication and flexibility. She encourages parents to work out a solution that fits their circumstances rather than rushing into court. Her point is not that parents should ignore public health guidance, but that, within the boundaries of responsible decision-making, parents can often find a workable compromise that respects both households’ comfort levels. Court, by contrast, tends to produce a stricter outcome because judges must rely on government directives as the benchmark for safety and for assessing the child’s best interests.

She also warns against using the pandemic as leverage. Early in the pandemic, she saw situations where one parent tried to restrict the other parent’s time with a child by citing COVID-19. Laura says this approach is strongly discouraged. Parenting decisions should be grounded in the child’s best interests, and for most families that includes maintaining meaningful contact with both parents unless there are serious, specific concerns.

Finally, Laura notes that social media has become part of these disputes. Posts can increase anxiety and conflict, and they can also be used to accuse a parent of ignoring guidelines. The overall message is that calmer, child-focused planning, ideally confirmed in writing, is more likely to preserve stability during an already emotionally loaded season.

Listen to the full 570 News 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.