A New York judge has ordered that a Long Island mother make her two children available to talk to their father via Skype, an online video conferencing service, as a condition of her move to Florida.
This is the first time such a condition has been made on a case in New York, the New York Law Journal reports. But last year, the New York Times reported that a number of states have begun allowing for “virtual visitation,” giving judges the option to keep non-custodial parents in contact with their children via e-mail, instant messaging and Web cams.
In the New York case, Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Jerry Garguilo, in Baker v. Baker, ordered that the mother, at her own expense, “will see to it, prior to re-location, that the Respondent, as well as the children, are provided the appropriate internet access via a Skype device which allows a real time broadcast of communications between the Respondent and his children.”
The couple has been divorced since 2008 and the mother, who is unemployed, is planning to move to Florida where she can live with her parents and find work.
In granting the mother’s request over the father’s objections to his children moving, Garguilo noted that common sense makes clear that a move aimed at finding a better way to support the family is necessary.
I had no idea what skype was until my 15 year old niece from Florida came to visit this summer. She used skype to maintain contact with her boyfriend. That may be an acceptable alternative to going out on a date. But I have concerns about using skype for visitation or parenting time. While the judge in this case may have been well-intentioned there is simply no substitute for face to face, hands on parenting time with ones child. I agree that there may be circumstances when this is the only way to maintain some form of parenting time but I would hope these cases are rare. How does a parent help with homework, throw a baseball or give a hug with skype?
Anyone have any experience with skype and visitation? Was it ordered by a judge in lieu of visitation or in addtion to regular and consistent visitation?