Sometimes, when a couple with children gets divorced, it is not easy to co-parent. In some cases, a parent will act out of anger or spite and attempt to turn their child against the child’s other parent. This behavior is known as parental alienation. It is important to recognize the signs of parental alienation and stop it before any serious damage is done to your relationship with your child. Read on to learn more.
What is Parental Alienation?
Parental alienation is a form of manipulation in which a parent attempts to turn their child against the other parent. This may take the form of passive verbal jabs about the other parent, outright badmouthing the other parent, or in more extreme cases, pretending to “save” the child from certain situations that the child simply does not need saving from. This can severely impact the child’s relationship with both parents and it can have serious consequences in terms of a child’s mental health.
What are the Consequences of Parental Alienation?
Parental alienation has been known to have serious psychological impacts on a child. Studies have shown that children who are victims of parental alienation are at increased risk for future trust and relationship issues, depression, and substance abuse. Additionally, if your child is being manipulated, he or she may begin to act out. If you believe you and your child are victims of parental alienation, it is important to take action right away. You should reach out to a family attorney who can help you prove that parental alienation is occurring. If you can prove this to a New York court, the court may change your custody arrangement. This is because engaging in parental alienation violates the core of your custody arrangement, which is to do what is in your child’s best interests. As a result, the court may give your child’s other parent less time with the child, or enforce supervised visits in order to limit the negative impact the parent can have on the child. That being said, parental alienation can be incredibly difficult to prove. In order to provide proof, you should document disparaging remarks made by your ex, write down relevant things your child says, and be sure to preserve all social media evidence.
If you have any questions or concerns about parental alienation, contact our experienced firm today.
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Matters of divorce and family law should be navigated with the guidance of an experienced attorney. If you need strong legal representation regarding matters of divorce, family law, and estate law, contact the Law Offices of Susan A. Kassel, P.C. to schedule a consultation today.
