Parental alienation is a common problem in contested divorces and it can be a difficult issue to address. If one parent is engaging in this bad behavior, they should be held accountable. That could mean making changes to a custody agreement. A Tazewell County child custody lawyer from our firm may be able to help you with this.
What is Parental Alienation?
The goal of parental alienation is to make a child or children dislike the other parent. They can do this by manipulating the children and their emotions, or they may just make disparaging remarks and limit the contact that children can have with the other parent. This can make it much harder for them to maintain a solid, healthy relationship with both parents.
Why Do Some Parents Engage in Parental Alienation?
There are a few reasons why parents engage in this kind of behavior. For some, it’s simple revenge on an ex-spouse who they still have issues with. Others suffer from mental health issues or personality issues that make it harder for them to make the right decisions and prioritize the mental health of their children over their own aims and ambitions.
What Are Some Signs of Parental Alienation?
There are some indicators of parental alienation that you may be able to notice over time. These are a few of the things that you should look out for:
- Your ex is telling lies and vilifying you in front of the children
- Your ex is trying to interfere with your visitation schedule and prevent you from seeing the kids
- Your children have become more hostile or antagonistic toward you
- Your children have no interest in maintaining relationships with your extended family
- Children automatically side with the other parent in all types of arguments
- Your ex tightly controls communication with your children
Can Someone Lose Custody For Engaging in Parental Alienation?
Yes, a parent who engages in parental alienation can have their custody or visitation arrangements changed. This is because Illinois makes the best interests of the child a top priority. In most cases, having healthy relationships with both of their parents is good for children. A parent who interferes with this is not watching out for the best interests of their children.
How Can I Address This Issue?
If your spouse is actively trying to ruin your relationship with your children, that has to be addressed. You must remain calm, even if your child attempts to hurt your feelings or drive you away. You can talk to your lawyer about modifying the custody agreement, but fixing the results of parental alienation can be difficult. Depending on the severity of the problem, extensive therapy, supervised visitation, and a lot of work from you might be required.
Contact Our Attorneys
If you want to learn more about how we can help you modify your child custody plan, contact Butler, Giraudo & Meister, P.C. and schedule a consultation. Our experienced attorneys would like to hear more about the issues that you’re facing.
