15th January 2020
A court has recently made a bold decision about which parent a child should live with based on evidence of parental alienation and the impact this was having on the welfare of the child.
The case involved separated parents of a 12 year old child. The father applied to the court for a transfer of care to allow the child to live with him in the South of England rather than living with the mother in the Midlands following a breakdown in the relationship with his son.
The evidence put forward of parental alienation was strengthened by an independent medical report from a psychologist and leading expert in the field of parental alienation. His report assessed all parties – the mother, father and the child – and concluded that the mother’s actions were not supporting a relationship between the child and the father and it was in the child’s best interests to live in with his father.
What is Parental Alienation?
Parental Alienation is the deliberate attempt to negatively impact the relationship between the child and the other parent.
This can happen from both sides leaving the child stuck in the middle of two parents or could be from one side in particular.
Parental alienation can occur from a bitter or complicated relationship breakdown. One parent could feel hurt, let down or angry and they decide to ‘punish’ the ex-partner by causing distance between them and their child. They could genuinely feel that the other parent is in the wrong or is a bad parent and therefore shouldn’t be spending time with their child or this could be part of a power game when child contact is being used as a ‘weapon’.
Parental alienation could be direct – for example promoting anger towards the other parent, sharing ‘grown-up’ details about your separation or conflicts and refusing to co-parent. Or it could be done in a more covert manner, such as speaking negatively about the other parent within earshot, showing negative body language or showing emotion in front of the child.
It could also include things like stopping or reducing contact, not allowing the child to talk about the other parent, taking away any gifts or keepsakes involving the other parent or forcing them to choose between their parents.
This can be very damaging to a child – particularly younger children who are not able to identify the manipulation that is going on. They will often think that their new found opinions on their mother or father are completely their own and this can cause a distant or unhealthy relationship for years to come and even into adulthood.
Warning Signs of Parental Alienation
Early signs of parental alienation could include;
How to Avoid Parental Alienation During Your Separation
When you are going through a separation or divorce it can be difficult to remain positive about your ex-partner when deep down you are likely to be feeling angry, upset or resentful towards them.
This is where being a parent needs to be put first.
You must consider the welfare of your child and the importance that during a turbulent time in their life you support and promote relationships with both parents regardless of your own feelings.
Obviously if there are any safeguarding issues then you would be advised to speak to a solicitor or the police in a case of emergency.
What Can You Do About It?
If you think that you are being shut out of your child’s life or that your ex-partner is trying to damage the relationship between you and your child/children then it is important to act calmly and consider your options.
Remember that if your child’s behavior has changed or your ex-partner is limiting contact then it may not be a case of parental alienation and there could be other reasons or explanations.
Here to Help you Move Forward
If you would like more advice on this topic or any other family / divorce matters then please contact our friendly team who will be able to assist you and help you find a way forward.
Call us on 01256 844888, email enquiries@lambbrooks.com or speak to our online assistant who will be able to take some details and get a member of our team to contact you.
The contents of this article are for the purposes of general awareness only. They do not purport to constitute legal or professional advice. The law may have changed since this article was published. Readers should not act on the basis of the information included and should take appropriate professional advice upon their own particular circumstances.
Lamb Brooks LLP
Victoria House 39 Winchester Street Basingstoke Hampshire RG21 7EQ
f: 01256 330 933
Online Payment
Newsletter Signup
Your Name (required)
Your Email (required)
© Lamb Brooks is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority - SRA No 559661. Lamb Brooks LLP (registered at Companies House OC363909) whose registered office address is: Victoria House, 39 Winchester Street, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 7EQ
Website by Muze
Client Care Policy | Accessibility Statement
Terms of Use | Privacy Notice | Cookies Policy | Complaints Policy
This website uses cookies to improve your site experience. By accepting, or using this website, you consent to our cookies. For more information please see our new cookie policy.