Karnataka High Court orders using ‘parenting time’ instead of ‘visitation’ in all child custody cases

In a significant move aimed at reforming the language used in cases involving custody of a child between couples in conflict, the High Court of Karnataka has directed all family courts and courts dealing with guardians and wards (G&WC) cases henceforth to use the term “parenting time” instead of “visitation,” observing that no parent should be treated as a mere “visitor” in a child’s life.

Justice Lalitha Kanneganti, who was hearing a child custody case, issued the direction while pointing out that it is time for a small change in the language employed in judicial proceedings.

Pointing out that courts often use the word “visitation” to describe the time the child spends with a parent, who is a non-custodial parent, the court said that the word “visitation” is familiar, but “it carries an unfortunate suggestion that one parent is part of the child’s life while the other merely visits.”