Family Law & Divorce Attorney
Yes. Arizona courts can include video calls and other forms of virtual contact in a parenting plan when the arrangement supports the child’s best interests. Virtual visitation generally supplements in-person parenting time rather than replacing regular face-to-face contact.
Virtual visitation can include scheduled communication through FaceTime, Zoom, or another video platform. It may also include phone calls or other electronic communication that allows a parent and child to stay connected when they are apart.
When Is Virtual Visitation Appropriate in Arizona?
Virtual visitation can be useful when a parent cannot have frequent in-person contact with a child. This often comes up when parents live far apart or one parent travels regularly for work.
Other circumstances may include military deployment, extended work assignments, or a child spending a significant portion of a school break with the other parent.
For families dealing with long-distance parenting time, virtual contact can give the child more consistent access to both parents between visits. However, video calls generally should not be viewed as a substitute for meaningful in-person parenting time when regular visits are practical and appropriate.
How Do Arizona Courts Decide Whether to Allow Virtual Visitation?
Arizona courts make legal decision-making and parenting time determinations according to the best interests of the child. State law directs courts to consider factors such as the child’s relationship with each parent, adjustment to home and school, and the child’s wishes when the child is mature enough for those wishes to be considered.
The court may also consider whether each parent is likely to encourage frequent, meaningful, and continuing contact between the child and the other parent.
When deciding whether virtual communication should be part of a parenting plan, practical considerations can also matter. These may include:
- The child’s age and ability to participate in video or phone calls
- The parents’ schedules and geographic distance
- How frequently virtual contact would occur
- Whether the proposed arrangement interferes with school, activities, sleep, or the other parent’s time
- Whether the parents can follow clear rules concerning the calls
Arizona parenting plans must include procedures for parents to communicate with each other about their child, including the methods and frequency of communication. When parents cannot agree on a required element of their plan, the court can decide that issue.
What Should a Virtual Visitation Schedule Include?
Clear terms can help prevent disagreements once virtual contact begins. Instead of simply providing for “reasonable video calls,” parents can establish when calls will occur, approximately how long they will last, and which platform will be used.
The plan can also address what happens if the child is unavailable at the scheduled time. Depending on the child’s age, parents may need to consider how much assistance the child needs to participate and how much privacy should be provided during conversations.
These details can be particularly helpful in a long-distance child custody arrangement, where electronic communication may be an important part of maintaining the parent-child relationship between in-person visits.
Can an Arizona Virtual Visitation Order Be Modified?
Yes. Parenting arrangements can be modified when circumstances change and the legal requirements for modification are met. For example, a parent may relocate, change jobs, return from a deployment, or become able to exercise in-person parenting time more frequently.
Parents may sometimes agree informally to adjust communication routines. However, an informal agreement does not replace the existing court order. If you need an enforceable change to a court-ordered parenting plan, it may be necessary to seek court approval.
How Can an Arizona Family Law Attorney Help With Virtual Visitation?
Virtual visitation can raise questions that are easy to overlook when a parenting plan is first created. We can help you determine whether virtual contact makes sense for your family and propose terms that clearly define when and how communication will occur.
If you and your co-parent disagree, we can also help present your proposed arrangement to the court and explain how it supports your child’s needs. For an existing order, we can evaluate whether changed circumstances support requesting a modification.
Create a Parenting Plan That Keeps You Connected
Technology can help parents stay involved in their children’s lives when distance or scheduling makes regular contact difficult. The right arrangement depends on your child, your existing parenting schedule, and your family’s circumstances.
If you have questions about virtual visitation, parenting time, or legal decision-making in Arizona, contact Cohen Family Law. We can review your situation and help you pursue a parenting arrangement designed around your child’s best interests.
