Virtual Visitation

Virtual visitation, also known as electronic visitation or virtual parenting time, refers to the use of technology to facilitate communication and interaction between a non-custodial parent and their child. This method is particularly useful when physical visitation is not possible or practical due to distance, work schedules, health issues, or other constraints. Here are key aspects of virtual visitation:

Key Components of Virtual Visitation

1. Technology Used:
   • Video Calls: Platforms like Skype, Zoom, FaceTime, and Google Meet allow for face-to-face interaction via video.
   • Phone Calls: Regular phone calls are a basic form of virtual visitation.
   • Text Messaging: Regular text messaging can help maintain daily communication.
   • Email: For longer, more detailed communication, sharing photos, and staying updated on events.
   • Social Media: Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and other social networks can be used to share updates and stay connected.
   • Apps: There are specific apps designed for virtual visitation that provide secure communication and interactive features (e.g., OurFamilyWizard).
2. Legal Recognition:
   • Court Orders: Virtual visitation can be included in custody agreements and court orders. It ensures that both parents have agreed to its use and establishes guidelines for frequency and duration.
   • State Laws: Some states have laws specifically recognizing and supporting virtual visitation. These laws ensure that virtual visitation is considered a legitimate form of maintaining parent-child relationships.
3. Benefits:
   • Flexibility: Allows parents and children to connect despite geographical or logistical barriers.
   • Frequency: Can facilitate more frequent contact than traditional visitation schedules.
   • Emotional Bond: Helps maintain and strengthen the emotional bond between the non-custodial parent and the child.
   • Safety: Useful in situations where physical visitation might pose safety concerns (e.g., during a pandemic or if a parent is deployed).
4. Challenges:
   • Technology Access: Requires access to reliable technology and internet connections for both parents and the child.
   • Technical Issues: Potential for technical difficulties that can interrupt communication.
   • Quality of Interaction: May not fully replace the benefits of in-person interaction, especially for younger children.
   • Scheduling Conflicts: Coordinating schedules for virtual visits can still be challenging.
5. Best Practices:
   • Regular Schedule: Establish a regular schedule for virtual visits to provide consistency for the child.
   • Preparation: Ensure that both the technology and the environment are set up in advance to minimize interruptions.
   • Engagement: Engage in interactive activities during the virtual visit, such as reading together, playing online games, or helping with homework.
   • Respect: Both parents should respect the scheduled virtual visitation times and facilitate a positive experience for the child.

Virtual visitation is an effective tool for maintaining parent-child relationships when traditional in-person visitation is not feasible. By leveraging technology, non-custodial parents can stay connected with their children and participate in their lives more actively. Legal recognition and clear guidelines in custody agreements can help ensure that virtual visitation is used effectively and benefits all parties involved.

Many fathers assume they won’t have a fair trial when trying to obtain legal custody of their child. This is not true, although it is crucial to have experienced and trusted child custody help in Phoenix. The family law attorneys at Canterbury Law Group have years of experience recognizing and building formidable cases that will protect your interests and maximize your parenting time.

If you’re a father hoping for custody of your child, we have tips that may help you and your case:

1. Pay Child Support: A father who wants custody of a child should prioritize making regular child support payments. If he has an informal arrangement with the child’s mother, it is crucial to maintain records such as check receipts or a written letter from the child’s mother detailing the support arrangements. If a father is struggling with child support payments, he should request a modification rather than sacrificing a payment.

2. Maintain a Strong Relationship: Even if the child is not in the custody of the father, a relationship can still consistent. The dad should call the child frequently and check in on their day, schedule a time to stop by the child’s school and introduce himself to the administration and ensure the child knows that he’s there to offer any assistance necessary. A father who wants custody should also attend the child’s social, educational, religious and other important events as evidence of a continuing relationship with the child.

3. Keep Precise Records: A father should maintain an accurate visitation schedule record to help obtain child custody. A father can capture accurate visitation records by developing and maintaining a parenting plan.

4. Prepare a Space for Your Child At Home: A father should make a special place in his home for the child, regardless of the size of the home. A court will inquire about adequate living accommodations during all child custody hearings, so a father should be prepared to respond to the judge’s inquiry.

5. Consider Mediation: A father who wants custody of a child should consider mediation or arbitration, prior to undergoing an adversarial court hearing. In mediation or arbitration, cases are decided by a neutral third party. For a father, custody proceedings in a courtroom may be difficult to handle, so he may prefer the smaller, friendlier setting associated with mediation or arbitration.

Our legal team has extensive experience in child custody help in Scottsdale. We help fathers get fair and equitable treatment by the courts. Recent changes to Arizona law mandate that the court treat both mothers and fathers equally in the eyes of the law. If a man fears that his wife may leave and take the children, it is his obligation to ensure he takes steps needed to protect his role as the father. That may mean consulting an attorney before his wife has the opportunity to file for a divorce. The family law attorneys at Canterbury Law Group have significant expertise in father’s rights issues and can capably guide you through. Your children are counting on you to make the right decisions both before and after the divorce case has been filed.