On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in child custody on Thursday, January 16, 2020.
When Kansas parents of young children are going through a divorce, they might want to include a schedule for virtual visitation in their plan. Virtual visitation can include email, phone calls, video calls, exchanging messages on social media and more. In general, it is any contact between parent and child that is mediated by technology.
Virtual visitation is common in cases where a parent is moving out of the area where the child lives, and some critics of it say that it can make a judge more likely to approve a parental relocation. However, virtual visitation is supposed to be a supplement to and not a replacement for regular visitation. Custodial parents should encourage this contact and should allow children to interact with the other parent uncensored.
An advantage of virtual visitation is that it can help enhance the bond between parents and children. A child can show a parent a missing tooth or an award. A parent can experience a child’s sporting event or musical recital. A parent can read a story to the child at bedtime, help with homework and see the expressions on the child’s face. In general, if a parent is not permitted to see the child because of concerns about the child’s safety, virtual visitation is also not permitted.
Negotiating child custody can be difficult because one or both estranged spouses may feel that they have better parenting skills. However, it is important to remember that it is in the best interests of the child to have a relationship with both parents, and the child can thrive under different parenting styles. A parent who is concerned about abuse or neglect may want to discuss it with an attorney. The other parent may be limited to supervised visitation or may be denied access entirely.
