When a couple with children gets divorced, things can get complicated. This is a big, stressful change for all parties involved. Sometimes, parents can put aside their differences and co-parent successfully. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Often, parents engage in something called “parental alienation.” Parental alienation occurs when one parent disparages the other parent to their child. This behavior can be subtle or completely overt. Regardless, this sort of behavior not only hurts the bond between the child and his or her parent, but it also hurts the child in the long run as well. Parental alienation is shown to increase the likelihood of childhood trauma. As a result, it is important to put a stop to this behavior as soon as possible. Read on for more information.
What Does Parental Alienation Look Like?
Parental alienation is a tactic used to turn a child against their parent. Sometimes you may not even be aware that this is occurring, but it can seriously impact your relationship with your child. Parental alienation may take the form of:
- Passive verbal jabs about the other parent
- Outright badmouthing the other parent
- Pretending to “save” the child from certain situations that the child simply does not need saving from
Children are vulnerable and they may be deeply affected by these behaviors. If you believe you are a victim of parental alienation, it is important to take action as soon as possible.
What Should I do if I am a Victim of Parental Alienation?
If you believe that you and your child are victims of parental alienation, you should first retain the services of a knowledgeable family law attorney. Often, the solution is to modify your custody agreement. But, in order to do this, you will have to provide proof that your former spouse is exhibiting behavior in line with the definition of parental alienation, and thereby violating the core of your child custody agreement. This can help limit the amount of time your former spouse spends with your child if he or she is not looking out for your child’s best interests.
If you believe you are a victim of parental alienation, be sure to reach out to our firm as soon as possible.
Contact our experienced Ocean City firm
Matters of divorce and family law require the attention and skill of an experienced attorney who will fight for your future. Not only is your financial well-being at stake, but in a divorce, both you and your children’s emotional well-being are at risk as well. If you need a divorce and family law attorney in Ocean County, New Jersey, please do not hesitate to contact the Law Office of Sarina Gianna, LLC today to schedule a consultation.
