San Antonio Long-Distance Visitation Lawyer

Getting Your Children From Point A to B

Following a divorce or the end of a relationship between an unmarried couple, parents will usually be able to share child custody, and even if children live with one parent most of the time, they will be able to spend regular visitation time with the other parent. However, in the years following a divorce or breakup, military deployments, job transfers, and family medical issues, among other many other things, may result in parents living miles or even states away from one another. How can parents deal with long-distance visitation when they share custody of a child?

Brandon Wong & Associates is a family law firm that helps parents living across the country or serving overseas make long-distance visitation work. Many parents in San Antonio serve in the military or share custody with someone who does. We are proud to help these parents foster relationships with their children. With a great deal of experience in the field of family law, our lawyers know how to be creative when addressing matters related to custody and visitation. We also understand exactly how to draft workable parenting agreements or resolve disputes under the law.

What Are Your Options in Long-Distance Situations?

Child custody and visitation rights are a serious matter in Texas. The courts prefer to have both parents involved in a child's life. In cases where parents have joint managing conservatorship of their children, they will need to work together to make decisions about how their children will be raised. Parents are encouraged to communicate with each other, discuss their needs or any concerns they may have, and reach agreements on how they can encourage positive relationships with their children. Each parent should also have reasonable amounts of visitation time.

When parents live far apart, visitation arrangements can sometimes be difficult to establish. It may not be feasible for parents to travel long distances to transport children between their homes while also following their work schedules and children's schedules for school or other activities. However, arrangements may be made that will allow both parents to have regular contact with their children and maintain strong, loving, supportive relationships with them. Whether through voluntary agreement or in court, the law leaves room for a variety of options, including:

• Virtual visitation: Parents can leverage the power of technology to keep a regular or variable visitation schedule. Potential options may include the use of cellphones, Skype, Zoom, FaceTime, private chat rooms, and many other modes of communication between parents and children. Making arrangements for regular visits through these methods can ensure that parent/child relationships will not be negatively impacted by long distances.
• Travel expenses: One parent may not need to shoulder the burden for expenses required to visit the child or let the child travel to his or her house. A visitation agreement can include terms allocating these costs between the parents.
• Designated alternatives: If necessary, a parent may be able to designate a grandparent, sibling, or other family member or close friend as an alternative who can visit their child on their behalf.

The terms that define a long-distance agreement hold as much weight as if the parents lived in the same city. Refusing to let the child communicate with a parent, failure to pay for expenses related to visitation, or denying visitation with a designated third party may all constitute violations of visitation rights. In these situations, a parent may need to take steps to enforce a visitation agreement in court.

Contact Our San Antonio Visitation Agreement Attorneys

If you have questions about long-distance visitation, our law firm can advise you of your options, and we will work with you to create visitation agreements that will meet your family's needs. Contact our office at 210-201-3832 to schedule your initial consultation.