When one parent tries to turn their children against their former spouse, the courts can step in. Parental alienation can deprive a child of healthy relationships with both of their parents, and the court often believes that having good relationships with both parents is in the best interests of the child. If you think that your ex is trying to alienate you from your children, you must act. Our Morris County, NJ child custody attorneys can help you try and address this issue and modify your custody agreement.
What is Parental Alienation?
Any kind of behavior meant to make the child or children dislike their other parent is parental alienation. People can do this for all sorts of reasons. Some people still have unresolved issues with their ex and doing this allows them to strike back at them. Others have mental health issues, like narcissistic personality disorder, that can make them center themselves and not care about the consequences that their actions inflict on others.
Whatever the case may be, the courts do not look kindly upon parental alienation. One of the top priorities when child custody arrangements are being made is the well-being of the child. Having good relationships with both parents is seen as a net positive in most cases, so one parent interfering with the other parent’s relationship to their own child or children is a major issue.
What Kinds of Behavior Can Be Considered Parental Alienation?
Parental alienation is not just talking badly about an ex. Parents can do all sorts of things to interfere with a child’s relationship with their other parent. Some common behaviors include:
- Making disparaging comments about the other parent
- Interfering in communications between parent and child
- Withholding information about the children
- Threatening parental abduction
- Telling lies about the other parent
- Preventing visitation
What Are Some Signs of Parental Alienation?
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to see the signs of parental alienation until your ex’s behavior has already had a substantial impact on your child. You may notice that:
- Your child does not want to communicate with you
- Your child seems hostile or distant
- Your child no longer wants a relationship with your extended family
- Your child always sides with the other parent in conflicts
- Your child tries to avoid visitation
Can This Behavior Affect Custody Arrangements?
If you suspect that your ex is engaging in parental alienation, you have to address it as soon as possible. This could affect your child custody arrangement, but the most important thing is the mental health of your child. Therapy sessions and supervised visits might be needed to rebuild your relationship and get to a healthy place.
Schedule Your Consultation
When you’re dealing with parental alienation or any other kind of custody-related problem, we want to help. Contact Townsend, Tomaio & Newmark, L.L.C. to schedule your consultation. Meet with our team today.
