Divorce News & Articles
Using the World Wide Web to Foster Parent-Child Relationships Following Illinois Divorces!
(Total Divorce) May 2, 2007 - A proposed Illinois child visitation law would address visitation and relationship issues that may develop when the noncustodial parent lives out of state following a divorce by recognizing visitations via the Internet.
Specifically, a recent story in the Daily Herald detailed how this proposed Illinois law would take advantage of the convenience of modern technology and recognize visitations via email, instant messaging, video conferencing and other online means. With that said, these online visits would not replace actual visits between the noncustodial parent and his or her children as required under respective Illinois child visitation guidelines.
This proposed addition to Illinois visitation laws would also forbid judges from using these online visits as a means to approve child custody relocation requests. Online child visitation in Illinois would either be court-approved or voluntary under this proposed law.
If such legislation involving child visitation in Illinois were to become law, the Daily Herald story reported that Illinois would join Wisconsin as the only states with similar online visitation laws. So far, this proposed supplement to current Illinois child visitation laws has drawn mixed reviews.
Online Visitation Proponents Have Marveled at How Parent-Child Relationships Have Blossomed in spite of Long Distances following Illinois Divorces!
The story specifically detailed how some noncustodial parents have been using Web cameras as a means to communicate with their children following a divorce in Illinois.
The story examined the situation of John Speer, who moved to Texas following his divorce in Illinois. Despite the long distance between himself and his two children Betsy and Trevor, John has been able to put a face to his voice by meeting with his kids at least one hour per week via his computer and Web camera. 12-year-old Betsy Speer called the experience better than "talking on the phone" because she actually gets to see her dad when talking to him.
The children's mother, Brenda, admitted to initially having some reservations about online visits in the story but is now a proponent of their benefits. Since her kids have not been able to see their father in Texas very often during the eight years following her Illinois divorce, Brenda Speer called online visits a "compromise" when considering the high costs and time commitments of long-distance travel.
Such positive developments are one reason why Kane County Associate Judge James Hallock is a big proponent of online visitations. While admitting that there is no substitute for the nuclear family, Hallock said in the story that longstanding definitions of family are changing nowadays and thus must be met accordingly with positive readjustments. Hallock commented that online visits are a simple way to mend relationships following Illinois divorces.
Not All People Are Thrilled by this Proposed Illinois Child Visitation Law!
Critics of this proposed Illinois child visitation law have initially wondered whether many families know about this type of technology and if there is enough education about online visits. As for those people who are aware of this technology, there is a concern among critics that they may use online visits as an excuse to ditch required visits with their children.
Critics justifiably wonder about how damaging the effects may be on children who have built back relationships with a noncustodial parent via online visits and then been disappointed when that parent failed to meet them in person.
Lawyers and judges have also been skeptical of granting online visits following Illinois divorces. Since online visits do not fall under a well-defined legal area, lawyers and judges have also worried about potential instances of abuse.
This proposed Illinois child visitation law is currently being considered in the state Senate after passing unanimously in the House. The Daily Herald story added that seven other states are considering very similar concepts.
Visit The Divorce Blog and of course Total Divorce for the latest developments on this proposed addition to Illinois child visitation laws. And if you live in Illinois and need to learn more about divorce, get in touch with an experienced Illinois divorce lawyer as soon as possible. Speaking with an experienced divorce lawyer near where you live is the smart way to get answers to your questions about the divorce laws in Illinois, child visitation rights in Illinois and other common issues surrounding the divorce process in the Land of Lincoln.
Simply fill out our divorce case review form or call 1 (877) 349-1310, and we'll help you get in contact with one of our sponsoring divorce attorneys in your area who can begin to fill you in on Illinois divorce laws, Illinois child visitation rights and any other questions that you may have.