Protecting What Matters Most

How does virtual visitation work in child custody?

On Behalf of | Jun 16, 2021 | Child Custody

After a divorce, it’s possible that one parent might not live close to the children. The distance may be too great for one parent to have time with the child in person as often as they’d like. In those cases, virtual visitation via video might help them to remain a part of the child’s life.

There are several points that you have to consider when you’re trying to get virtual visits as part of a child custody agreement. For example, parents might want to outline what services and devices they will use for the visits. Here are some other considerations:

Consider time zones

One of the most difficult aspects of virtual visits for many individuals is trying to figure out when to have the visits. This is especially problematic if there’s a time zone difference. The visits should always take place when the time is convenient for the children, so be sure to think about things like school and extracurricular activity schedules.

Uncensored communication

The communication between the parent and the children should be uncensored, just like what would happen if they were together in person. It should be up to the parent and children what happens during these visits. Because technology allows for real-time communication, the parent might be able to help with homework, read a bedtime story, or play a game with the children.

Any parent who thinks that virtual visits might be a valuable part of their child custody arrangement should have the terms for it included in the parenting plan. While these visits aren’t meant to replace in-person time with the child, they can bridge the gap between those in-person visits that may only occur infrequently due to distance and other factors. Having those terms in writing can help to avoid issues in the future.

Archives

FindLaw Network