If your marriage is no longer working, you may decide to get a divorce. While divorces are rarely easy, they are much more complex when children are involved. If your child begins treating you differently, it’s important to determine whether it’s the result of parental alienation. Parental alienation can be devastating, but ostracized parents should know the steps they can take to fight back and protect their relationship with their child. Please continue reading to learn how to handle being the victim of this matter and how a compassionate Suffolk County, NY Family Law Attorney can help you navigate your options.
What is Parental Alienation?
Parental alienation is a term used to describe a process through which a child refuses to have a relationship with a parent due to the psychological manipulation of another parent. Essentially, one parent may intentionally cause a child to reject, fear, or avoid contact with the other parent by conveying false information or leveraging other tactics. This situation most commonly arises during a divorce or custody battle. Generally, it occurs when one parent is looking to retaliate or get revenge against the other parent for their perceived wrongdoings.
When a parent is ostracized, the child is harmed tremendously by the total or partial loss of a parent. Parental alienation is considered a form of child abuse due to the psychological damage it can cause. The court believes that it’s in a child’s best interest to have an ongoing relationship with both of their parents if possible. That said, if you are the victim of parental alienation, you can pursue legal action.
What Should I Do if I’m a Victim?
In the unfortunate event that you are being alienated by your child’s other parent, you should begin documenting all communications and consider legal action to address custody arrangements. If necessary, you can file a motion to modify parenting time to limit the alienating parent’s time with the child. Unfortunately, parental alienation cases are usually difficult to prove in court. As such, you will need substantial proof to support your claim. This may include keeping a journal detailing any efforts they use to undermine your relationship with your child. This type of evidence can help establish the other parent engages in alienating behaviors.
In addition, you should attempt to maintain open channels of dialogue with your child. It’s important to keep in mind that your child is being manipulated by someone they trust. They are not to blame. As such, you should focus on your child’s well-being rather than past grievances when communicating with your ex-partner about the alienating behaviors.
If legal action is necessary to rectify parental alienation, please don’t hesitate to contact an experienced attorney from The Law Offices of Susan A. Kassel, P.C. Our legal team is prepared to represent your interests and fight for the best possible outcome. Connect with our firm today to learn more about what we can do for you during these tough times.
