In a case before Support Magistrate Elizabeth Bloom, sitting in the Family Court of Nassau County, a father brought a petition to terminate his child support obligations. In his petition, the father plead that his two daughters had been constructively emancipated from him and as a result he sought to end all of his child support obligations. He had not seen either of his two daughters since 2007. The father claimed the mother had defamed him in front of his twin daughters. She had told them he had engaged in extramarital relationships with other women. This information caused the girls to be alienated from him.

Mother Claimed Daughters Didn’t Want to See Their Father

The mother contended the father had not contacted his twin daughters since 2009. She took the position it was solely the children who did not want to have contact with him. She claimed she did not create the situation.

Support Magistrate Bloom in her decision stated pursuant to the doctrine of constructive emancipation a child who is of employable age can be constructively emancipated from the father. She found the father’s testimony to be truthful. She also took into consideration the evidence showed the mother had exhibited hatred towards the father. In her decision, Support Magistrate Bloom found the children were supporting the mother’s position against the father. She found the father’s conduct did not amount to a reasonable basis for the children to refuse to have contact with the father.

Constructive Emancipation

Support Magistrate Bloom ruled the children had constructively emancipated themselves from their father. They had taken this action without just cause or reason. They had refused to have any contact with him or allow him visitation. The father’s petition to have his child support obligations terminated was granted.