Texas Divorce and Virtual Parenting or Electronic Access to Children

On the off chance that you have require a best reasonable Texas Law encounter, Texas Divorce and Virtual Parenting or Electronic Access to Children in the immense procedure!

Something that most people and the courts can agree upon is that it is important to spend time with your children.

Divorce Lawyer in Houston – This sentiment can be found in Section 153.001 of the Texas Family Code which provides: “(a) The public policy of this state is to: (1) assure that children will have frequent and continuing contact with parents who have shown the ability to act in the best interest of the child;”

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for parents who are going through a Texas divorce or who separated to not cooperate in making sure that these frequent contacts. When this is the case it is often necessary for parents to seek court intervention.

ELECTRONIC ACCESS TO CHILDREN

Not only can a parent ask a court with physical visitation with a child a parent can also ask for electronic access to a child.

These electronic communication provisions allow parents to supplement their physical visitations with their children by being able to see and speak to their children more often. Electronic communication can take many forms including:

1. Skype
2. Facetime
3. Phone calls
4. Text
5. Email

In an ideal world parents will cooperate with each other in co-parenting and facilitating communication with their children. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.

It is therefore important if electronic communication to you that you ensure your court order as a provision that complies with section 153.015 of the Texas Family Code.

VIRTUAL PARENTING STATUTE

The electronics provision of the Texas family code has been called the virtual parenting statute. I have heard some parents talk about how they use electronic communication to:

1. Read their children a bedtime story
2. Help with homework

Electronic communication has not been important to all the parents I have represented. However, for others it has been very important. One father I know was very happy to have this provision and talked with his children daily via facetime on the ipads he purchased them.

TEXAS FAMILY CODE SECTION 153.015

Divorce Attorney Houston – Section 153.015 of the Texas Family Code entitled “Electronic Communication with Child by Conservator” was passed in 2007 by legislature. Under this section:

1. In this section, “electronic communication” means any communication facilitated by the use of any wired or wireless technology via the Internet or any other electronic media. The term includes communication facilitated by the use of a telephone, electronic mail, instant messaging, videoconferencing, or webcam.

2. If a conservator of a child requests the court to order periods of electronic communication with the child under this section, the court may award the conservator reasonable periods of electronic communication with the child to supplement the conservator’s periods of possession of the child. In determining whether to award electronic communication, the court shall consider:

1. whether electronic communication is in the best interest of the child;
2. whether equipment necessary to facilitate the electronic communication is reasonably available to all parties subject to the order; and
3. any other factor the court considers appropriate.

3. If a court awards a conservator periods of electronic communication with a child under this section, each conservator subject to the court’s order shall:

1. provide the other conservator with the e-mail address and other electronic communication access information of the child;
2. notify the other conservator of any change in the e-mail address or other electronic communication access information not later than 24 hours after the date the change takes effect; and
3. if necessary equipment is reasonably available, accommodate electronic communication with the child, with the same privacy, respect, and dignity accorded all other forms of access, at a reasonable time and for a reasonable duration subject to any limitation provided by the court in the court’s order.

4. The court may not consider the availability of electronic communication as a factor in determining child support. The availability of electronic communication under this section is not intended as a substitute for physical possession of or access to the child where otherwise appropriate.

5. In a suit in which the court’s order contains provisions related to a finding of family violence in the suit, including supervised visitation, the court may award periods of electronic communication under this section only if:

1. the award and terms of the award are mutually agreed to by the parties; and
2. the terms of the award:

1. are printed in the court’s order in boldfaced, capitalized type; and
2. include any specific restrictions relating to family violence or supervised visitation, as applicable, required by other law to be included in a possession or access order.

EXAMPLE #1 – ORDER GRANTING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION WITH CHILD

Houston Divorce Lawyers – The Court finds that electronic access between Petitioner and the children is in the best

interest of the children.

It is ORDERED that Respondent shall provide Petitioner with the email address of the child

on or before __________________.

If no computer is available in the home for the child’s use, then Petitioner/Respondent shall

supply such computer to the home equipped with internet access (and equipped with a webcam) to be installed and functioning on or before ____________. Both parties are ORDERED to cooperate in this purchase and installation of such computer and internet access.

Petitioner shall notify Respondent of any change in the email address not later than 24 hours

after the date the change takes effect.

Respondent shall treat the communications between Petitioner and the child with the same

privacy, respect and dignity accorded all other means of access and visitation. The child shall be

permitted to read and compose email communications or participate in webcam broadcasts between the hours of _____ and _____ on Saturdays and Wednesdays of each week.

EXAMPLE #2 – ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION WITH CHILDREN BY PARENT

1. Definition. Electronic communication includes any communication facilitated by the use of any wired or wireless technology via the internet or any other electronic media. The term includes, but is not limited to, communication facilitated by the use of a telephone, electronic mail, instant messaging, videoconferencing, or webcam. Each parent is entitled to reasonable periods of electronic communication with the child to supplement the conservator’s periods of possession with the child … Continue Reading