When it comes to divorce and children in Arizona, some authorities say that technology offers an opportunity to keep things on an even keel when dealing with child custody and visitation issues. When two people without children divorce, they have the luxury of avoiding contact with their ex-partner should they choose to do so. However, that is decidedly more difficult when there are minor children involved, and problems with communication can quickly lead to a further child custody dispute.
There is help on the horizon, both in handling child custody and visitation arrangements before and after a divorce, as well as in providing evidence for use in subsequent proceedings should the need arise to go back to court. Gone are the days when the mother was virtually assured of being awarded child custody. Most states these days favor some form of meaningful joint child custody arrangement. Technology tools such as text messaging, Skype and Google calendar have gone a long ways toward providing meaningful interaction without having to actually meet or even talk.
Technology is said to help in even the most disastrous of post divorce interactions between parents over child custody and visitation issues. Indeed, some judges have even gone so far as to order warring parents to use such apps as Our Family Wizard to govern communication exchanges. This application allows for attorneys to monitor interaction between parents to ensure that court orders are being honored.
While modern technology offers a wide array of options to create some space for necessary interactions between Arizona parents, it cannot solve all the problems. Sometimes, parents simply cannot agree, or one parent is simply not cooperative. In those instances, a trip back to court to seek a child custody modification may be in order. In making the application, evidence such as written exchanges (or the lack thereof) by email and/or text messaging may provide insight for a judge to help determine what is in the best interests of any children involved.
Source: The New York Times, “Kramer.com vs. Kramer.com,” Pamela Paul, Nov. 23, 2012
