Elder Law, Family Law, and Estate Planning in Hackensack, New Jersey

This is the third and final installment in a series on parental alienation. The first post reviewed parental alienation. The second post explored warning signs that your child may be the victim of a parental alienation situation. This post will examine how to assert your legal rights and stop the abusive behavior.            If you find that the other parent is interfering in your relationship with your child, it is normal to ask yourself, how did this begin? Contempt and the harboring of contempt is at the forefront of the other parent’s behavior. The other parent is also most likely a manipulator. She or he is able to manipulate you and your child. Parental alienation often begins subtly. At first it is derogatory comments. It then moves to demeaning, negating, and even berating comments that target the other parent.  What to do if You Suspect Parental Alienation If you suspect that your ex-spouse or partner is alienating your child, do not confront your ex direct

Parental alienation cases can be particularly difficult. Emotionally, they will challenge you in ways you never thought were possible. No one wins in parental alienation cases because the child will always strive to love and understand both parents. This is the second post in a continuing series about parental alienation. The first post explored parental alienation generally and how it manifests itself in the abusing parent. This post will focus on how to recognize the early warning signs that parental alienation is present in your relationship with your child. Check back next week to explore what your legal options are if you find that parental alienation is interfering with your relationship with your child.                                                                 How to Recognize Early Warning Signs Take a step back and review your relationship with your child. If you notice any of these signs, contact a mental health professional or social worker to help you ad

Has your child asked you not to attend a school event, sporting event, or be involved during parent-teacher conferences? Are you being challenged by your child regarding perceived past wrongs? Do you feel like you are being shut out of your child’s life for no reason? Your child may be the victim of parental alienation.                                                                       Parental Alienation at a Glance Manipulation of a child’s mind and attachment bonds with a parent in a negative way is a form of child abuse and described as parental alienation. To understand why your child may be pushing you away, it is important to take a step back and begin examining your relationship with the other parent and what you know of the person. More serious considerations are to be explored keeping the best interest of your child at the heart of any inquiry.  The damage done to your relationship with your child, when one parent works against the other, may take years to und