During divorces, spouses may go through a particularly dramatic time in their lives. Divorces can be ugly sometimes. If spouses had escalating arguments and turmoil that let to the breakdown of their marriage, it could cause a lot of tension between the two. This may lead spouses to have negative feelings toward one another that are a lot more heated than usual divorces. During litigation, they may try to make each other look bad to win over important decisions. This can be jeopardizing to children during divorces. Since child custody is decided by the court in these cases, it can lead to growing turmoil in divorces.
Child custody is a sensitive topic for parents. They want to be a part of their children’s lives and they do not want anything to interfere with their bond with their child. If spouses had a dramatic and devastating time leading up to the divorce, they may harbor ill feelings toward the other. This can lead to parental alienation.
Parental alienation is when a spouse tries to actively destroy the relationship of the other parent with their child. In order to do this, the spouse may put ideas into the child’s head about negative feelings toward their parent. If children are at a young age, they may not know any better and may listen to their parent. This can cause a strain in their relationship with their other parent. Children assume that whatever their parents tell them is true. Due to this, their behavior around the targeted parent may change. They may start to act aggressively or get upset when in this parent’s presence. When negative physical displays arise, this may be the cause of parental alienation on behalf of your spouse.
What can be done about parental alienation?
The topic of parental alienation can be highly controversial since it is not a valid medical disorder. Due to the fact that it is not medically a proven disorder, Â it can be hard to use as a defense in court. However, judges may recognize this form of abuse if the marriage between two individuals was especially toxic and displayed a dramatic ending. If the events leading up to the divorce proceedings or the proceedings themselves prove to show signs that parental alienation is a possibility, judges may consider parental alienation as a factor in the behavioral changes.
Since parental alienation is not a known disorder in science, it is best to acquire legal aid during these cases. An attorney can help you find alternative routes when pursuing custody of your child. This may help to diffuse disputes in court.
Paris P. Eliades Law Firm, LLC is honored to serve the people of New Jersey, including Sparta, Sussex County, Morris County, Passaic County, and Bergen County with the quality legal services they deserve. Contact our firm for a consultation today.