Parents in Texas who are seeking visitation rights might be concerned that they will not be allowed to stay in contact with their child as much as they would like. A parent in this situation may want to request that virtual visitation be included in the visitation order. As the name implies, virtual visitation is a type of arrangement where technology, like video conferencing, email and instant messaging is used to facilitate communication between a child and a noncustodial parent.
A parent who has been awarded virtual visitation may be able to stay in closer contact with a child who has moved to another state with their custodial parent. The noncustodial parent could potentially read their child a bedtime story or view a sports event live through video conferencing technology. The child may also have the ability to speak with their parent face-to-face after losing a tooth, winning an award or going through another major life event.
Court orders for virtual visitation are a new phenomenon, and some people fear that virtual visitation could be treated as a replacement for tradition visitation. However, a family court judge is not likely to award virtual visitation to a parent who would otherwise be denied in-person visitation. Virtual visitation is intended to be a supplement to traditional visitation rather than replace it.
A family law attorney may be able to represent a noncustodial parent during a visitation hearing and help to ensure that they are granted a fair order. If the parent wishes to request virtual visitation at the hearing, an attorney may help the parent present their position on the matter and then help them to negotiate the details of a virtual visitation arrangement.
