Virtual Parents: How Virtual Visitation Legislation Is Shaping the Future of Custody Law

Content Provider	Semantic Scholar
Author	Welsh, David T.
Copyright Year	2008
Abstract	Following Michael Gough’s divorce in 2002, his ex-wife wanted to move to Wisconsin with their four-year-old daughter. Michael’s work obligations kept him in Utah, yet he longed to sustain a significant relationship with his daughter in spite of the distance. Gough, a computer security specialist, arrived at his custody hearing with two laptops and demonstrated to the court how easy-to-use video conferencing technology could connect him over the internet with his daughter at minimal cost. Though the judge was unfamiliar with this novel technology, Gough persuaded the court to grant him virtual visitation rights in addition to traditional visitation. Gough subsequently presented a seminar to the Family Law section of the Utah State Bar with the help of Salt Lake City attorney Joyce Maughan. “One of the attorneys present . . . was so impressed that he proposed legislation” in Gough’s daughter’s name creating a presumption in favor of virtual visitation in custody cases. “Virtual visitation . . . refers to the use of email, instant messaging, webcams, and other internet tools to provide regular contact between a noncustodial parent and his or her child.” In 2004, Utah became “the first . . . state to legislate the authority of judges to include virtual visitation in divorce decrees.” As a result, parents are required to “permit and encourage” telephone and internet communication when the technology is “reasonably available.” Currently, only
File Format	PDF HTM / HTML
Volume Number	11
Alternate Webpage(s)	http://www.epubs.utah.edu/index.php/jlfs/article/download/95/85/0
Language	English
Access Restriction	Open
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article