Custody orders describe how parents who are no longer romantically involved may share time with their children. Parents usually have a right to a certain percentage of overnight time with their children and may be subject to a specific schedule for holidays, birthdays and other special events.
In some cases, parents may also request virtual visitation rules in addition to an allocation of parenting time. Virtual visitation involves using video calls to communicate with the children while they are with the other parent. Some people even play video games jointly with their teenage children while using voice chat features in-game to spend quality time related to a shared pastime.
What circumstances often make virtual visitation a particularly important custody order inclusion?
1. Military service
Those serving in the military often spend weeks or months away from home during training or deployment. Virtual visitation is one of the go-to solutions for the preservation of the parent-child bond during lengthy separations caused by military service or other career demands.
2. Large distances between homes
Frequently, parents who divorce pursue new relationships or career opportunities. They may move hours away or even leave the state. In such cases, the children may be with one parent or the other for weeks at a time. A virtual visitation plan can be beneficial in those cases.
3. Young children
Children who are not old enough to attend school may need to consistently reinforce their connections with their parents. When children are young, virtual visits may only last a few minutes, but they can be critical for preserving the connection between children and their parents.
Adding the right terms to a custody order is of the utmost importance for a successful co-parenting relationship. Virtual visitation can be a crucial inclusion in modern custody plans.