Access between a parent and a child does not have to be limited to physical access, ie: based on a schedule, the child spends time with the parent, during the day, overnight or for a couple of days at a time. Other forms of access are acceptable and in fact, quite common. The goal is meaningful "contact" between a parent and a child - and that may take a variety of forms.
Telephone access is quite common and has been for a long time. Such access can be ad hoc, meaning the child (usually) calls the parent whenever he/she wants. The more usual arrangement is for set times during the week when the parent speaks to the child by phone (time and frequency often depend on the child's age) - this gives the child structure, certainty and a reasonable expectation when contact with that parent will take place. The other parent's cooperation is required to make this happen - the child has to be close to a phone for the scheduled telephone access. Provisions and schedules for such access are common these days in Court Orders and Separation Agreements.
As technology advances, new forms of access have been introduced and are becoming part of our everyday family law "parlance". Access by Skype and Facetime are two examples. More and more Separation Agreements and Court Order include such access. Both parent and child much have access to the right hardware and software but that is becoming less of an issue these days given the availability of technology in virtually every household.
When considering access for your child, think out of the box of physical access. There are other options as well.
Telephone access is quite common and has been for a long time. Such access can be ad hoc, meaning the child (usually) calls the parent whenever he/she wants. The more usual arrangement is for set times during the week when the parent speaks to the child by phone (time and frequency often depend on the child's age) - this gives the child structure, certainty and a reasonable expectation when contact with that parent will take place. The other parent's cooperation is required to make this happen - the child has to be close to a phone for the scheduled telephone access. Provisions and schedules for such access are common these days in Court Orders and Separation Agreements.
As technology advances, new forms of access have been introduced and are becoming part of our everyday family law "parlance". Access by Skype and Facetime are two examples. More and more Separation Agreements and Court Order include such access. Both parent and child much have access to the right hardware and software but that is becoming less of an issue these days given the availability of technology in virtually every household.
When considering access for your child, think out of the box of physical access. There are other options as well.
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