Child custody issues can get contentious and, unfortunately, children often get caught in the middle. If your co-parent is attempting to alienate the children from you, this is undoubtedly causing some problems and affecting the bond you have with them. The best thing you can do at this time is to continue being a great parent while documenting incidents of parental alienation. The more evidence you accumulate, the better prepared you will be if you need to take legal action to protect your parental rights.
What to Do About Parental Alienation
Parental alienation is not only painful for the parent, but also incredibly damaging to the children involved. You may notice that your children are often angry with you, feel guilty for spending time with you, and that they may even begin to reject extended members of your family. If you notice these signs or others, you should do your best to thoroughly document it.
Here are some other tips you should follow if you believe your former spouse is engaging in parental alienation:
- Keep seeing your children: Your co-parent may try to limit your time with the children, so if you believe this is happening, put a stop to it immediately, even if that means seeking legal representation. Your ex cannot keep you from seeing your children as prescribed by your custody arrangement. If you are not assertive and allow your co-parent to limit your parenting time, your relationship with the kids will further deteriorate.
- Do not try to play the same game: It is natural to feel angry about what your ex-spouse is doing, but do not try to fight it by trying to be an alienator. Your children will pay the price for it.
- Remember that it is not your children’s fault: Your kids are not to blame for your ex-spouse’s actions. They are young and being manipulated by a parent they likely trust and love. No matter how terrible the situation gets, they are not to blame.
- Never miss out on visitation with your children: Flaking out on visitation with the kids will only further harm their opinion of you and it may even hurt your case in court. Unless you are experiencing a real emergency, it is important to always stick to the visitation schedule.
Discuss Your Parental Alienation Case with a Knowledgeable Family Law Attorney
If you believe your children are being alienated from you, you may need to take legal action to protect your parental rights. At Arnel Law Firm, our experienced family law team can provide the guidance and legal support you need. Our team will create strategies specifically tailored to your unique situation.
Call our law office today at (718) 550-3024 to set up a free initial consultation with one of our attorneys.
