Virtual Visitation

[anniewalker]

I just saw this article on yahoo and it talks about Virtual Visitation.  Pretty much where the NCP is allowed to visit with the child via webcam!  Apparently they are not just for freaky 19 year old co-eds! 
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060228/ap_on_hi_te/virtual_visitation;_ylt=Av9H0CYVwKDzQiwg1cQF6ZEDW7oF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

So I was wondering if anyone had seen / heard of it being done in Alabama.  I think it is AWESOME.  I think judges should put this in the visitation along with telephone visitation.  If I were still 300 miles from my daughter's father I'd totally be in favor of doing this (in addition to the regular physical visits!).

Lee - do you see any legal snares?

[Lee Borden]

Thanks for asking. I'm a big believer in parents' doing everything they can to maintain as normal a parenting relationship as possible with their kids, even when they're separated by distance. And virtual visitation can certainly be part of the solution.

The parents who have reported the most satisfaction to me have been (1) affluent, so that both parent and child have high-speed Internet, (2) comfortable with technology, so they can deal with the inevitable glitches, and (3) in relatively unstructured jobs, so they can leave a connection open for several hours at a time when the child is at home and in the room where the webcam resides.

Most of the enthusiasm tends to come from custodial parents who offer teleconferencing as a solution when they wish to move the child away from the custodial parent. Noncustodial parents tend to understand that, although it's helpful, it's no substitute for being there.

[MOM OF 2]

I SAW THIS TOO AND THINK IT IS AN AWESOME IDEA.  I'VE BEEN CHECKING INTO IT AND HAVE TRIED TO COACH MY EX INTO CHECKING INTO IT AS WELL.  IT SHOULD BE MORE PREVALENT IN THE COURTS TO ENCOURAGE THIS.