The Dangers of Parental Alienation During a Divorce
There is no doubt that divorce can be difficult on children, even if parents do everything they can to shield children from the drama and show them they are loved. In some situations, one parent might make the situation more complicated and emotionally challenging for a child if they engage in parental alienation. If you believe your spouse is engaging in this type of conduct, it is important to discuss it with an experienced Brandon divorce lawyer, as it can impact the outcome of your custody case.
What is Parental Alienation?
Parental alienation is what it sounds like – one parent trying to alienate the child from the other parent. A parent’s goal in this situation is to create a division between the child and the other parent, even encouraging hostility toward the parent on the part of the child, as well as estrangement. This can not only psychologically harm your child but may also lead your child to express the desire to stay away from you in the custody case.
Parental alienation can involve many different tactics, including:
- Disparaging you to the child or in front of the child
- Making false statements about your conduct or how the divorce is your fault
- Sharing inappropriate details of the divorce with the child that entrench them in the divorce case, where children have no such place
- Telling the child that you do not love them or want to spend time with them
- Disregarding a custody agreement or parenting plan that keeps the child away from you
All of these are an attempt to “program” the child into believing that you do not want a relationship, and that they should not want a relationship with you. The result can be a child who is strongly allied with their other parent, and who rejects attempts you make to maintain your relationship. If you fail to recognize that parental alienation is occurring, your child – if they are old and mature enough – might express to the judge that they do not want you to have custody rights.
Standing Up for Your Rights
Our child custody attorneys are adept at recognizing when parental alienation is occurring, and we have helped many clients in this situation. If the alienating parent is trying to get sole custody, it is important that the court knows that the parent is manipulating the child.
Courts consider many factors when it comes to child custody, including whether each parent is willing to encourage the child’s relationship with the other. Maintaining such relationships is generally viewed as being in the child’s best interests, and one parent’s attempt to wrongfully alienate the child can be considered to be harmful and abusive conduct, which can impact the custody determination.
Contact Our Brandon Child Custody Lawyers for More Information
Do not let your child’s other parent prevent you from having the custody rights you deserve. Instead, seek help from a Brandon divorce attorney at Carman, Bevington & Finegan, P.A.
Call 813-654-3444 or contact us online today.