{"id":1411,"date":"2025-08-28T15:36:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T15:36:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patriotslaw.com\/family-law\/?p=1411"},"modified":"2025-08-28T15:36:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T15:36:13","slug":"navigating-child-custody-during-deployment-virtual-options-court-adjustments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patriotslaw.com\/family-law\/navigating-child-custody-during-deployment-virtual-options-court-adjustments\/","title":{"rendered":"Navigating Child Custody During Deployment: Virtual Options & Court Adjustments"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After you and your ex-partner separate, you may negotiate a child custody arrangement that allows you to maintain a healthy relationship with your child or children. However, when the military deploys you to another state or country, your deployment can throw a wrench into your ability to exercise custody. What options do you have for protecting your child custody rights<\/a> as a parent when you go on deployment?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding Custody Challenges During Deployment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Going on deployment can complicate your custody arrangement or visitation schedules, especially if you get deployed to another state where you do not have private accommodations or if the military sends you overseas. You may not have the ability to spend in-person time with your children while on deployment. Furthermore, not having parenting time or the ability to speak to your children regularly can disrupt the continuity of your relationship with them. You may worry about missing important events in your child\u2019s development or damaging your relationship by not having a consistent presence in their life. Fortunately, courts understand the challenges that military servicemembers face in maintaining relationships with their children and can work with families to balance a servicemember\u2019s obligations with children\u2019s best interests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Virtual Parenting Options for Deployed Parents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One common option employed for parents deployed on military duty (especially overseas) involves virtual parenting time. \u201cVirtual\u201d parenting time can include video calls, emails, text messages\/messaging apps, recorded voice or video messages, or reading stories to young children over video at bedtime. Depending on the child\u2019s age and maturity, families and courts may arrange for more liberal communication between a child and a deployed parent, allowing the child or parent to text or call freely. Younger children may benefit from a more structured schedule, such as having short video or phone calls at bedtime and longer scheduled calls after school or on weekends. Virtual parenting options, including those that incorporate video calls, can help deployed parents maintain emotional connection with their children and facilitate co-parenting communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Court Adjustments to Custody Arrangements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When a military parent\u2019s deployment enables them to have some in-person parenting time (such as getting assigned to another military installation in the U.S.), parents and the court may make temporary adjustments to the family\u2019s custody arrangements during the military parent\u2019s deployment. For example, changes to custody arrangements may include granting a military parent periods of custody during a child\u2019s school breaks when they can travel to visit their parent, if feasible given the military parent\u2019s living arrangements and duty obligations while on deployment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Various federal and state laws protect military parents from unanticipated changes to custody arrangements while on deployment. For example, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act<\/a> allows servicemembers who cannot participate in court hearings on child custody matters due to their service to request a delay of the proceedings for up to 90 days; courts have discretion to grant an additional 90-day delay. Various states also have laws that protect military parents in child custody matters while on deployment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Planning Ahead: Legal Steps Before Deployment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Military parents can take steps before deployment to protect their custody rights and their relationship with their children, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n