April 1, 2020 - A standing order was signed in the Northeast Texas Child Protection Court No. 1 by Associate Judge, Lisa M. Andrews on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 regarding visitation in all child welfare causes before the child protection court of Panola, Shelby, San Augustine, Rusk, Marion, Titus, and Morris Counties.
The order suspends parent-child and sibling visitation to contain the spread of COVID-19 and to protect all parties.
ORDERED that:
1. This order is issued pursuant to the Emergency Orders regarding COVID-19 State of Disaster issued by the Supreme Court of Texas and the Court of Criminal Appeals, and the directives and guidance issued by the Office of Court Administration, specifically pertaining to preventing the spread of COVID-19.
2. All previously ordered parent-child visitation and sibling visitation, beginning April 1, 2020, and continuing until further order of this court, is HEREBY ORDERED SUSPENDED in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and to protect all parties.
3. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS), IS HEREBY ORDERED to make arrangements for:
a. Telephone contact, at least weekly, in place of in-person visitation beginning April 1, 2020, and continuing until further order of this court;
b. Facetime, Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts or other video conferencing applications/programs, at least every two weeks, in place of in-person visitation beginning April 1, 2020, and continuing until further order of this court; or
c. A combination of telephone and video conferencing methods.
SIGNED on the 31st day of March 2020.
Lisa M. Andrews
Associate Judge
The signed order was filed in the Shelby County District Clerk's office on April 1, 2020.
Editor's note: This is only for CPS cases.
