My Ex is Turning My Own Children Against Me: What Can I Do?

 

When parents divorce, children often suffer. That being said, there is no reason why separations cannot be handled in a professional, considerate manner. It is always important to put the child’s best interests first when handling a divorce, and judges in New Jersey are wholeheartedly committed to doing just that. Unfortunately, some spouses may take it upon themselves to manipulate and influence their own children, turning them against their parents and creating a rift in the family.

In the legal world, this is known as “parental alienation,” and it is a serious issue. If you believe that your former spouse is engaging in this behavior, you should seek help from a qualified family law attorney as soon as possible. A legal expert can help you hold your former spouse accountable for their behavior. If you let this go unchecked, it could have a serious impact on the strength of your relationship with your child. Fortunately, you have the option to take legal action.

What is Parental Alienation?

While parental alienation is actionable in New Jersey courts, it is often difficult to define in concrete terms. Generally speaking, the term is more widely accepted in the psychological community, as researchers have been studying the phenomenon of parental alienation syndrome (PAS) for many years.

For the most part, parental alienation occurs when one parent feels that their relationship with a child is suffering because of the direct actions or behavior of their former spouse. While New Jersey courts may not formally recognize PAS, the legislature clearly states that one parent should not intentionally interfere with another parent’s relationship with a child.

Examples of Parental Alienation

So what does parental alienation actually look like? This may take several forms, including:

• Your former spouse insults you in front of the children during pick-up times
• Your former spouse prevents you from spending time with your children
• Your former spouse sends you threatening or hostile texts
• Your former spouse has blocked your phone number so that you cannot reach your children
• Your former spouse is making important decisions about your child’s life without your input
• Your former spouse is intentionally going against your wishes for your children in an effort to spite you
• Your former spouse has been telling your children lies about you
• Your former spouse has been making false claims to the police about your behavior with your children
• Your former spouse has told your children inappropriate details about the nature of your divorce and the details of your divorce proceedings
• Your former spouse now considers a stepparent the “biological parent,” and lists them as such on medical or school forms without your consent

Reach Out to a Qualified Family Law Attorney as Soon as Possible

If you believe your former spouse is engaging in parental alienation, you need to team up with a qualified family law attorney as soon as possible. Act quickly, and you can limit the damage this might have on your relationship with your child. Choose Giro, LLP, Attorneys at Law, and we will fight for your rights as a parent.