4 years ago
Broadband internet and a $50 web camera is all Michael Vaughn needs to talk to his son face-to-face. And even meet his friends.
Vaughn lives in Takoma Park. His son Alex is a freshman at St. Mary's College. Video conferencing lets Vaughn hear and see how his son is doing.
That kind of communication is something Andrew Farrell of Fairfax longs for with his daughter Victoria.
Victoria is now 12 and lives with her mother in Puerto Rico. Farrell says her mother has cut of all communication.
Utah is the first state to make virtual visitation an official option in custody battles. Virginia lawmakers just killed a bill that would've done the same.
While a law would give parents a legal tool to enforce visitations, some parents have been using virtual visits for years. Jim Buie, formally of Takoma Park, has virtually visited his son for the past 10 years.
Children's rights advocates say virtual visits are no substitute for the real thing. But Farrell, who can't afford to make frequent visits to Puerto Rico, says it's better than nothing.
Written By Peggy Fox 9 News
