Parental Alienation

Parental AlienationParental alienation is a form of child abuse and family violence. Parental alienation will often appear when a child expresses reluctance or refusal to have any type of relationship with one of his or her parents based on exaggerated or untrue reasons. Often these reasons have no basis in logic or fact for the child to refuse to have a relationship with one of his or her parents. The parent who is the target of the parental alienation activities by the other parent is often demonized. He or she is undermined and presented to the child as not being worthy of the child’s love or attention.

Parental Alienation and Custody

There are various type of behavior that are meant as parental alienation. There are subtle forms of bad mouthing of one parent. The parental alienation can be a series of events or it can be related to an ongoing pattern of behavior of one parent towards the other parent. The person usually engaging in the parental alienation of the child is the individual who seeks to have custody of the child or already has custody of the child.

Reversal of Parental Alienation

In situations where there has been extensive parental alienation it is usually necessary to hire mental health professionals to address the misunderstandings and problems the alienating parent has created for the other parent. Stopping parental alienation by one parent of the other is always in the best interest of the children and their mental health.

Parental alienation is much more widespread phenomena than most people are aware of. Today both the psychological community and the legal community are aware of this issue. Corrective action to stop of this type of improper behavior should be taken immediately upon ascertaining that parental alienation is taking place.

schlissel-headshotElliot S. Schlissel, Esq. is a divorce lawyer representing men and women throughout the Metropolitan New York area. He can be reached at Elliot@sdnylaw.com or 800-344-6431.

Difficulties With Parental Alienation

Difficulties With Parental AlienationParents who engage in parental alienation often get away with it. The parental alienation may also be undertaken not only by the parent but by the parents relatives, grandparents and by other family members. The alienation is designed to destroy the relationship the other parent has with the child.

Parental Alienation’s Impact On Children

Children exposed to parental alienation may seem aloof. They often have signs of hostility, disobedience, defiance and withdrawal. It is common that they refuse to have any interaction with the other parent. When questioned about their failure to want to spend time with the other parent, their responses are usually excuses which cannot be correlated to specific actions. The alienated parent may have taken no action to cause the emotional abuse of a child to cause the child to dislike them.

Parental Alienation Is Emotional Abuse of Child

Parents who alienate their children from the other parent are engaging in emotional abuse. This can damage a child’s self esteem.

Psychological maltreatment of children as a part of parental alienation can cause psychological distress to the child. It can make younger children moody and cause them to regress in learning and social situations. This can psychologically damage the child.

Parental alienation can deprive a child of the love most parents want to give their children. Should you be confronted by a situation involving parental alienation it is strongly suggested you retain a Family Law Attorney with an expertise in dealing with these types of issues. The attorney should be contacted as soon as there are signs of parental alienation. The longer the parental alienation takes place, the harder it will be to reprogram and reeducate the child to love, respect and spend time with the alienated parent.

schlissel-headshotElliot S. Schlissel, Esq. is a divorce lawyer representing men and women throughout the Metropolitan New York area. He can be reached at Elliot@sdnylaw.com or 800-344-6431.

False Allegations of Child Abuse In Parental Alienation

False Allegations of Child Abuse In Parental AlienationFalse Allegations of child abuse or child neglect of the other parent are sometimes made by an individual seeking to deprive the other parent of custody and/or parenting time with the child or children. If this happens, it is important to immediately go to court to obtain court orders causing the person making the false allegations to enter into counseling and to take parenting courses. An order of protection can also be applied for to prevent the parent from continuing to take this action.

Parental Alienation

Most parental alienation is done intentionally creating problems with the child or children and the relationship with the other parent. However sometimes one parent is alienated by the other parent through negligence and misbehavior without an intentional scheme. Parents who engage in alienation and improper conduct in front of the child will continue to do it if they get away with it. They have to be made to pay a penalty or be confronted with this negative behavior.

Family Courts In New York

The way Family Courts in New York work deal with this issue is for one parent to file a petition alleging improper conduct by the other parents’ towards the children. The conduct is delineated in the petition and the petition can be submitted as an emergency petition. In many instances the Judge will then ex-parte, meaning without the other parent present to defend themselves, issue an order of protection to protect the alienated parent and children. The sheriffs office often serves the petition with a copy of the order of protection granted by the court and information with regard to the next court date. When the parent under the order of protection appears on the next court date, if the courts are busy the case may get adjourned for months at a time. The parent subject to the order of protection can demand an immediate hearing with regard to the allegations. Even though courts are busy, the person subject to the order of protection is entitled to an immediate hearing.

A person improperly accused of domestic violence against the other parent or child must act aggressively and fight for his or her rights. There is an expression, “God helps those who helps themselves.” Our legal system tends to works slowly. It is important for a person who is improperly the subject of allegations of improper conduct to assert their rights vigorously as quickly a possible.

schlissel-headshotElliot S. Schlissel, Esq. is a divorce lawyer representing men and women throughout the Metropolitan New York area. He can be reached at Elliot@sdnylaw.com or 800-344-6431.