Child Custody Attorney in Colorado Recommends Alternative Visitation

When couples with children separate or divorce, nothing arouses more animosity or causes more discord than child custody decisions.  Even when a separation starts out politely, it can quickly become hostile when both parents are fighting for custody.  A Colorado child custody attorney often must remind the parties that any custody agreement in Colorado will be viewed in light of one thing – what is in the best interests of the child.  Parents may have needs and desires too, but the courts will be most amenable to a parenting plan that does little to disrupt the lives of the children.

Not long ago, it was the mother who was almost guaranteed to get primary physical custody of the children, with dad resigned to his alternating weekend schedule.  However, today’s divorced family is dealing with more complexities, including dual-career couples, out of state transfers, and parents who want joint physical custody.  Only a skillful mediator and a highly qualified child custody attorney can make sure these families come away with a workable parenting agreement.  In many cases, they are considering alternative forms of visitation to stay in contact with their children regularly.

One example of alternative visitation, which may be recommended by a Colorado child custody attorney, is called “virtual visitation” and is a great way for parents and children to stay touch when separated by distance.  Using webcams and video conferencing platforms like Skype, children and their parents can schedule real-time visual visitation time that is more personal than a phone call.  While never intended to replace physical parent and child visitation, ideas like this are making it easier for parents and children to deal with separation without requiring the physical transportation of the child to a parents’ residence.  A Colorado child custody attorney may even recommend that this type of communication is available on a regularly scheduled basis.

As children get older, they may request that their weekends are more flexible so they can spend time with their local friends, but this can complicate the parenting plan for non-custodial parents.  While there is no specific age at which a minor can choose his or her own parenting schedule, judges often allow kids to make their wishes known via a child custody advocate who can appear in court on their behalf.   Oftentimes, parents need to be flexible enough to work around a teenager’s busy schedule of extra-curricular activities. 

If you are looking for alternatives to the traditional parenting plan, a Colorado child custody attorney from the Marrison Law Firm can recommend ways to make visitation work for everyone.  For more information, read “Colorado Child Custody Attorney Explores Alternative Visitation Agreements” and schedule a free consultation today.