Divorce is a painful experience for the whole family. When children are involved, a distraught ex might try to deal with their pain by lashing out or seeking revenge through parental alienation tactics. Parental alienation causes serious harm and demands a strong response. A Bristol divorce lawyer from Rich Rochlin Law can help.
Our Google ratings have earned our team a “Top Rated Service” recognition. When you partner with a
parental alienation lawyer in Bristol from our firm, you’ll see why. We treat every client with respect and compassion. We value family and know how important it is to fight for healthy family relationships. Trust us to take great care of your relationship with your child.
Recognizing Parental Alienation
Children should never be used as a weapon. Unfortunately, that’s what happens in cases of parental alienation. An ex-partner may be unhappy after a divorce. They may feel rejected or angry and look to punish their former partner by keeping the children from, or turning the children against, that partner.
Parental alienation can take a variety of forms. For example, the offending parent could:
- Make the child feel guilty after spending time with the other parent
- Limit the child’s contact with the other parent
- Talk badly about the other parent to or in front of the child
- Use the child as a “spy” and have them report on the other parent’s activities
- Lie about the other parent
- Dismiss or condemn the child’s positive feelings for the other parent
- Reward the child for being cold toward or outright rejecting the other parent
- Blowing typical disagreements with the other parent out of proportion
It’s critical to recognize parental alienation tactics and take immediate measures to protect yourself and your child. A Bristol family lawyer can help.
Call today for a consultation with a parental alienation lawyer serving Bristol (860) 357-9158
Steps to Take When You Experience Parental Alienation
Parental alienation harms the target and the child. A study of the Medical–Legal and Psychosocial Considerations on Parental Alienation as a Form of Child Abuse refers to parental alienation as “a complex form of child abuse.” Findings show it can lead to depression, anxiety, substance abuse, future family dysfunction, and other effects for both the targeted parent and the child.
Document incidents of possible parental alienation as soon as you recognize them. Even if you’re not sure of exactly what’s happening, collect the evidence anyway. Those notes can’t hurt you if the behaviors stop, but they can help support your case if you need to take legal action against this destructive behavior.
Record child custody agreement violations. Note dates and times when you’ve been denied scheduled visitation or your ex needs to “adjust” the schedule and shorten your time with your child. Your child might reveal a negative remark your ex has said about you. Write that down, again, including the date and time and any relevant context.
Talk to Others
Your family and friends may have witnessed acts or effects of your ex’s attempts at alienating you. Ask them to provide statements. Healthcare providers, educators, members of law enforcement, and other professionals who interact with your child and family may also be able to provide evidence.
Bristol Parental Alienation Lawyer Near Me (860) 357-9158
An Experienced Parental Alienation Attorney in Bristol Can Provide Critical Support and Advocacy
Another critical initial step is to connect with a Bristol parental alienation lawyer. We understand how devastating it is to be the target of parental alienation and the high stakes involved. Your reputation and your relationship with your kids are under attack.
As our reviews show, you can trust Rich Rochlin Family Law for immediate and effective support and guidance in these high-stress situations. We can work to collect evidence from additional sources. It may be time to seek support from child psychologists or arrange home studies. We can help organize those appointments.
We can also help you avoid actions that could make things worse for you. It makes sense to want to “vent” to others about your experience or expose your ex’s behaviors to the world, but social media can negatively influence your family law case, and so can saying the wrong thing to the wrong person offline. We are a safe place for you to talk about what’s happening without causing further harm.
Click to contact our Divorce Lawyers in Bristol today
How to Protect Yourself and Your Child From the Effects of Parental Alienation
A Bristol parental alienation attorney can present you with options for stopping parental alienation and then lead you through every step of the process. Depending on your situation specifics, you can pursue out-of-court or in-court options.
Out-of-Court Options
We can try to resolve the situation with help from a Connecticut parental coordinator (PC). A PC is a legal professional and neutral party, and their interventions could help avoid a lengthy court process. Another option is mediation. Mediators cannot make legal rulings, but they can meet with both parties and present the findings to a review counsel.
Discussions held with you, your ex, and your respective attorneys are another option. These discussions are called four-way conversations, and their purpose is to address and resolve allegations of parental alienation without going to court.
Going to Court
You may have to take your case to court. A parental alienation attorney in Bristol can file a motion for contempt for parental alienation. Connecticut courts take claims of alienation seriously, but require extensive evidence. Assessments from child psychologists and other experts have a particular influence. Our team knows what it takes to convince the court and will come armed with powerful evidence.
You might need to modify your custody agreement to fight back against alienation tactics. Our team can file a motion for modification. The court permits adjustments when the petitioner can prove there has been a substantial change in circumstances. We will work to present a convincing case to the court.
Complete a Case Evaluation form now
Get Solutions from a Team That Cares
Rich Rochlin Family Law knows the importance of healthy parent-child relationships. If your ex-partner is interfering with your relationship with your child, we are here to offer protection and advocacy.
Reach out to talk to a Bristol parental alienation lawyer from our team today. Help is available.
Let us help navigate your family legal matters schedule your consultation now.