Virtual Visitation and Why It Matters

As technology makes the possibility of virtual meetings more prevalent and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect how and where people gather and see one another, virtual visitation is becoming an increasingly effective way for parents to see their kids. Virtual visitation allows the non-custodial parent to meet with their children virtually through the use of video applications like Skype, Whatsapp, instant messaging, FaceTime, and other tools. If you have questions about how virtual visitation works, you should contact an Irvine visitation lawyer today to learn more. 

Why Is Virtual Visitation Becoming More Popular?

Virtual visitation makes frequent face-to-face contact easier for busy parents who do not live near their children. That’s become especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic, which grounded much domestic and international travel and urged Americans to stay home. Aside from being a useful tool for parents who live far away and have difficult schedules, virtual visitation is a great way to maintain constant contact with your kids when the relationship with your former spouse remains frayed. Imagine being able to see your children more often without worrying about also dealing with your ex! 

Virtual visitation is available in over 25 states, including California. While the laws vary from state to state, in most states, a judge will typically create a schedule for what days and times an e-visitation can occur and how long these sessions can last. In that way, a virtual visitation schedule is very similar to a regular visitation schedule because the non-custodial parent must adhere to a schedule to see their child.

When Are Virtual Visits Allowed?

Virtual visitations won’t be allowed when a judge feels that allowing them to move forward would endanger the child. For example, parents with a history of abuse or criminal records may not be allowed to have a visitation schedule with their children at all, and that would include virtual visits. 

Likewise, judges rarely consider virtual visits to be ideal and will always advocate for in-person visitation. However, in some instances, the judge will order that virtual visitation is okay. These include:

When virtual visitation does not interfere with the child’s routine in a negative way

When the child and parent live far away, such as in different states or countries. 

Any situation that requires more frequent contact. When a parent and child simply need to spend more time together, a judge may order virtual visitation as an effective method for doing so.

Contact an Irvine Visitation Lawyer to Learn More

If you’re a non-custodial parent who believes that a virtual visitation schedule would go a long way in improving your relationship with your child, an Irvine visitation lawyer at our firm can help. Contact our office today.