During a divorce, families with children often have to make a lot of important decisions regarding their children. No matter what happens,you won’t be able to see your child as much as before. To help cope with the lost time, you can work on the custody agreement and expand beyond just the physical visitations.
Through planning and mediation, you can set up extra forms of communication with your child. By having these options as part of your agreement, you will expand your contact with the child, even if they are not there with you. Learn about the various forms of communication and how they will help with your custody agreement.
1. Set Call Times
Just like a visitation agreement where a child goes to a specific parent for certain days of the week, you also have the option to set up specific call times during the week. Life and schedules may get hectic, so call times may vary slightly, but you can set up times in various ways.
For example, you may have a weekly call set up on Sundays when you do not have the child. Sunday is often ideal because your child will not have school, and Sunday is not a typical work day for many. Within the day, you may be able schedule the call for either the morning or evening.
Having details set in stone will help prevent miscommunication and create a proper routine everyone is used to.
2. Child-Requested Phone Calls
Another element you may add to your custody agreement has to do with child-requested phone calls. In some cases, a child may request to call a parent and speak to them. Within the custody agreement, both parents may agree to allow the phone calls when a child pleases.
Of course, a child may need limits if the requests are out of hand, but a custody agreement could include elements of at least one phone call request per day. With the agreement, the child will feel connected to both parents and be able to enjoy a phone call whenever they please.
3. Video Calls
To help enhance the connection through a call, parents may agree to set up a free video call account. Many services offer free video call features, so a parent won’t have to use their data plans or cell phone minutes to make the call.
With a video call, a child could expand the ways a call is used. For example, a parent could help a child with homework or check out other school work.
The video call can work both ways so each parent has the opportunity to video chat no matter who the child is with.
4. Expanded Visitation Call Schedules
In some custody agreements, a child may have longer times with parents during certain periods. For example, a child may spend two weeks with a parent during holiday vacations or even longer with a single parent during summer vacation.
When there is a longer stretch of time between visits, you have the option of setting up an expanded visitation call schedule. The expanded schedule will ensure you still have active communication with your child. For example, you may expand calls to three times a week as opposed to just a single call a week.
Communication is key with both parents and children during divorce and custody arrangements. Get started with your custody plan by contacting our experienced attorneys at the Law Office of Travis Van Winkle LLC. We will help advocate for your needs and keep you connected with your child no matter what the custody agreement is.