Ideally, Texas divorced parents would be able to spend time with their children on a regular basis. However, some parents live too far from their children to make regular visitation worth pursuing. Those who aren’t able to physically visit with their children may be entitled to virtual visitation sessions. Virtual visitation may involve exchanging emails, text messages or videos on a regular basis.
It is important to note that virtual visitation is not designed to replace actual time spent with a son or daughter. Instead, it is meant as a tool to help parents and children maintain a relationship when they can’t be together. Custodial parents are encouraged not to take steps to interfere with the noncustodial parent’s ability to communicate with a son or daughter. This generally means allowing the parent and child to have contact on a regular basis and in a manner that isn’t censored by the custodial parent.
A few of the commonly cited benefits of virtual visitation include being able to read a child a bedtime story or staying current on a child’s school activities. Noncustodial parents should be aware that they may not receive virtual visitation rights if they wouldn’t have been granted traditional visitation rights. In almost all cases, the best interests of the child determine whether a noncustodial parent can contact a son or daughter.
Assuming that is in the best interests of the child, both parents are typically allowed to interact with their children. However, parents may maximize their chances of obtaining virtual or traditional visitation with a child by living in close proximity to the other parent. They might want to have the assistance of an attorney when seeking this type of a parenting order.
