Children can thrive when their parents do not live together, but both parents must commit to prioritizing their children’s needs. Mature parents keep their discord private and reassure their children that both parents love and support them.
An immature parent may try to turn the children against the co-parent. If this is happening to you, contact a New Haven child alienation lawyer right away. The experienced child custody attorneys at Dolan Divorce Lawyers can help you bring a court motion if necessary.
Child alienation, sometimes called parental alienation, occurs when a parent actively undermines their child’s relationship with their co-parent. A child’s self-esteem depends on attachment to both parents. Alienation can damage it and harm the child’s ability to form secure attachments.
Alienating conduct can range from making disparaging remarks to interfering with the co-parent’s parenting time, to falsely accusing a parent of abuse. It can cause a child to feel guilty about their love for the target parent, and the child may withdraw from them or act out.
Children often have trouble adjusting to their parents’ divorce or separation, and it is common for a child to be angry at one or both parents even when no alienation is present. It is important not to overreact, blame the child, or accuse the other parent without proof. However, a parent who suspects their co-parent of child alienation should consult a New Haven custody attorney about the situation.
Evidence is essential when a parent believes a co-parent is undermining their relationship with a child. Parents must document everything that could indicate intentional alienation.
A parent seeking to undermine a co-parent may leave voicemails or send texts that reveal their intent. The child may say something they could not have known unless they heard it from their other parent. A child’s long-term behavior changes or a new and unexplained unwillingness to spend time with the target parent could also be indicators of alienation.
When a parent has a convincing case, they could bring the evidence to the attention of a judge. An attorney in New Haven experienced with child alienation cases can bring a motion seeking to enforce the parenting arrangement and prevent a co-parent from interfering with the other parent’s custodial rights.
Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-56 requires judges to make custody decisions in the child’s best interests. The law presumes that the active involvement of both parents is best for children. When one parent tries to undermine their co-parent’s relationship with the child, they are not acting in their child’s best interests.
When a parent can show a judge that a co-parent is interfering in the relationship, the judge may modify the custody arrangement. However, accusations without a solid foundation may backfire. Proof of the parents’ behavior is necessary, and medical and psychological records can be especially potent.
However, it is important to avoid presenting evidence of psychological disorders that have not been officially recognized. Some psychologists use the term Parental Alienation Syndrome to describe the symptoms and behaviors a child may exhibit when they are being manipulated, but this is not a recognized mental health disorder or a defined legal term. The persuasiveness of the argument increases when a New Haven child custody attorney focuses on actual evidence and recognized diagnoses, such as anxiety or depression, rather than Parental Alienation Syndrome.
Your relationship with your children is precious to you and critical for your child’s healthy development. If your co-parent is interfering with that relationship, you must act. A New Haven child alienation lawyer at Dolan Divorce Lawyers can guide you through the necessary steps, so contact us today.
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