Sparta Parental Alienation

Do you fear that your child is being turned against you by your ex? Does your child suddenly not want to see you or even speak with you? Do you suspect that your ex is saying disparaging things to your child to make them think as though you no longer love them or want to have a relationship with them? If you are worried about any of these things, then your child might be a victim of parental alienation. Separation and divorce can take an emotional toll on anyone, and particularly on the children involved, but when actions and emotions are such that one parent is trying to destroy their child’s relationship with the other parent, the effects can be damaging. If you suspect that your ex is interfering with your relationship with your child, it is imperative that you seek help from an experienced Sparta Parental Alienation Attorney right away in order to protect your rights and those of your children.

Parental alienation is a form of emotional child abuse where a child is brainwashed or influenced against one parent by the other parent. Parental alienation typically accompanies separations and divorces, and it can occur in countless ways. The most common type of parental alienation happens when one parent disparages or speaks negatively of the other parent over a continuous period of time to the point that a child begins to believe that the targeted parent is “bad” and that they no longer want a relationship with that parent. Some other indicators of parental alienation that tend to be more manipulative include:

• Your ex does not allow you to visit with your child or even speak with your child;
• Your child no longer wants to see you or speak to you;
• Your ex denies access to your child’s medical or school records;
• Your ex schedules activities that interfere with your visitation time;
• Your child engages in rebellious behavior or lashes out at you for no particular reason;
• Your ex tells your child to spy on you and/or listens in on your phone calls with your child;
• Your ex blames you for the separation or divorce, and your child begins to believe the same;
• Your ex blames you for their bad luck;
• Your ex falsely accuses you of harmful behavior.

As mentioned above, a separation or divorce can be particularly hard on the children involved. They might be upset or angry at their parents, and sad and confused about the changing family dynamic. But when it becomes clear that one parent is interfering with the child’s relationship with the other parent, it must be dealt with immediately.

There are many judges who do not believe that parental alienation syndrome is an actual, legitimate syndrome that effects children. But no matter what a judge believes, all parenting time and custody decisions must be made based on the best interest of the child. In other words, the court is required to make custody decisions that have a positive impact on a child’s overall safety, health, and wellbeing. When it comes to a child’s best interests, the court typically has wide discretion to consider a number of factors, including parental alienation, or active interference with a parental relationship. Courts will usually not favor one parent over the other when making decisions, but when a parent engages in parental alienation, that parent’s conduct can negatively affect the child and may justify a modification in parenting time or a custody arrangement. For instance, perhaps the court will decide to modify an order such that the interfering parent’s parenting time is limited. But in extreme cases, the court might choose to eliminate the interfering parent’s time with their child altogether until the manipulation, and the harm caused by the conduct is resolved. In addition to modifying custody arrangements, the judge also has the discretion to penalize the interfering parent. For example, a judge might order the interfering parent to:

• Pay for the targeted parent’s court costs and attorney’s fees;
• Pay for the child’s therapy costs or the costs associated with family therapy;
• Attend parenting classes or counseling sessions; and/or
• Participate in community service.

No matter what your situation is, if you suspect parental alienation is harming your child, be sure to contact an experienced Sparta Parental Alienation Attorney right away. Unfortunately, parental alienation can be a nightmare that some parents are forced to deal with, but the sooner it is addressed, the better for all parties involved.

If your ex is manipulating your child to the point that your ex’s conduct is adversely affecting your relationship with your child, be sure to contact the Aretsky Law Group, P.C., today by calling 800-537-4154 to schedule your initial consultation at our Sparta, N.J. meeting location by appointment only.