As a parent, you probably enjoy the time you spend with your child. If you don’t live near your child, you might find that you don’t get to spend as much time with your child as you would like. Technology has made it possible for you to stay in contact with your child in more ways than just speaking on the phone. While this type of visitation isn’t a replacement for in-person visits, it is a good option to fill the time between those visits.
Virtual visitation occurs when you and your child have contact through means like video chats, text message, email and other similar methods. In many cases, virtual visitation allows you and your child to see each other. This can be reassuring for you as a parent since you can lay eyes on your child and it can help the child to feel more connected to you.
One interesting thing about virtual visitation is that it lets you participate in your child’s life in ways that once weren’t possible. You can get on a video chat to read your young child a bedtime story or you can watch video clips of an older child participating in extracurricular activities. The extent of the virtual visitation is up to you, your child and your child’s other parent.
It is possible for a court to order a child custody agreement that includes provisions for virtual visitations. If this is something that you think will benefit your child, you should learn about how to petition the court to include this in the order or how you can discuss the matter with your child’s other parent.
Source: FindLaw, “Virtual Visitation,” accessed Sep. 16, 2016
