If my son/daughter is being deployed, can I exercise their visitation time on their behalf?
This is a common occurrence as our armed services rotates troops and support staff around the country. The relocation of military personal normally requires a parent move a substantial from his or her primary residence and has a material effect on their ability to visit their child. The good news is that the Court may grant reasonable visitation rights to the stepparent, grandparent or other family member if the Court does the following: a) strength of pre-existing relationship between child and family member, b) that visitation will facilitate the child's contact with the parent moving away & c) balances the interest of the child in having visitation with the family member against the non-relocating parent's right to exercise parental authority.