When a divorce occurs, emotions often run high. You and your ex-spouse may have very negative feelings toward each other in the aftermath of the divorce. In some cases, parents will get their children involved by speaking ill of their other parent. While it may be tempting to do so, badmouthing your former spouse to your child is one of the most harmful things you can do. This can have a negative impact on the relationship the child has with both parents. Additionally, it has been known to lead to childhood trauma. This behavior is known as parental alienation.
What Does Parental Alienation Look Like?
Parental alienation can be very difficult to spot, and even more difficult to prove. It can come in many different forms, ranging from subtle verbal jabs at the other parent, to full-blown verbal attacks, to even taking physical action to “save” the child from their other parent when the child, in fact, does not require saving. Regardless of what form parental alienation takes, it is important to put a stop to it as soon as possible.
What Can I do to Stop Parental Alienation?
To stop parental alienation, there are several routes you can take, depending on the specifics of your situation. However, in many cases, the best option is to request a child custody modification on the basis that, by committing parental alienation, your former spouse is violating the core term of your child custody agreement, which is to always act in your child’s best interests. As long as you can prove that your former spouse is no longer acting in your child’s best interests, you should be able to modify your child custody agreement so that your spouse spends less, or, in the worst cases, no time with your child. But, it is important to note that it can be difficult to prove parental alienation. As a result, you will want an experienced family law attorney on your side throughout this process.
If you believe you and your child are victims of parental alienation, contact our firm today to speak with a skilled attorney.
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Our firm proudly represents clients in New Jersey who are faced with matters of family law, criminal defense, business law, real estate law, or estate planning. If you require strong and dedicated representation for any of your legal matters, please do not hesitate to contact The Law Offices of George J. Mardinly to schedule a consultation.