In most states, child visitation is no longer restricted to physical visits to interact with the child. Virtual visitation allows you to communicate and interact with your child even when apart. Here are three important things you should know about virtual visitation:
Many Have Been Doing It without Knowing
When people hear of virtual visitation, they have in mind video conferences (think Skype), but it isn't always that sophisticated. Legally speaking, any mode of communication or interaction that takes place in an electronic medium, qualifies for this designation. This means that text messaging, telephone calls, emails, and instant messages all qualify as virtual visitation. Many parents have been using these methods to communicate with their children, which mean they have been engaging in virtual visitation.
Does Not Substitute Physical Visitation
In most cases, virtual visitation is ordered to supplement physical visitation, and not to replace it. Therefore, you may request virtual visitation if you already have physical visitation bus suspect that it is not adequate, or the circumstances don't allow for frequent physical visitation. This may be the case, for example, you are living in different states or countries. It is a good way of increasing contact with a child who needs it, for example, a difficult child who needs more parental contact to reform.
Note that many custodial parents will allow some forms of virtual visitation, such as texts or phone calls, even in the absence of virtual visitation orders. However, the court will only enforce electronic interactions with your child if you have a legally binding order.
It Requires Careful Drafting
While virtual visitation may look like a very easy thing to set up, some challenges may crop up during the implementation stage. Therefore, careful drafting is necessary to cover things like:
Are you interested in virtual visitation? Talk to your divorce attorney to see if you can get it included in your custody order to improve contact with your child.
I am a real estate attorney, and I have been helping clients buy and sell property for many years. Some clients do not realize their legal obligations and options when it comes to purchasing or selling a house or land. I hope that this blog will be a way for people to get information about legal issues in real estate and what they need to know when doing business. Buying and selling property can be complicated, and all parties involved have legal obligations. Know what is expected of you, and you will be able to get the best out of your real estate transactions.