Parental alienation can result in the loss of custody

 Posted on April 01, 2021 in Child Custody

When couples break up or divorce, it is generally not on good terms. When minor children are added into the mix, that can bring out even more raw emotions and conflicts. Some parents may be so vengeful that they engage in parental alienation tactics.

You should know that parental alienation isn't looked upon very fondly by the court, no matter your reasoning. Acts of parental alienation can even result in a family law judge depriving you of custody.

What is parental alienation?

Parental alienation is any instance in which one parent purposely attempts to turn their child against their other parent. It's not uncommon for one parent to constantly tell their child negative information about the other parent to put emotional distance between the two of them. A mom or dad may also falsely accuse their co-parent of child abuse or domestic violence to alienate their child from their other parent.

Extended family members, including grandparents, aunts and uncles, may all become the target of the alienation campaign as well.

What are the signs of parental alienation?

One of the first signs of parental alienation is a change in your child's behaviors at either school or home. Similarly, a child may start to behave differently toward the targeted parent, refuse to spend time with them or resist visitation. They may even repeat accusations about the targeted parent to others. Any substantiated parental alienation allegations may jeopardize your custody rights.

Sometimes, of course, a parent may falsely claim they're the target of parental alienation. They may be trying to gaslight the court system to hide their bad behavior or wrangle leverage in a custody battle. An experienced attorney can explain the grounds for establishing a parental alienation claim and the options you may have as a parent in combating such allegations.