Splitting up with your partner or spouse can be emotionally and mentally draining. Doing so when you have minor children can take things to a whole new level.
The stress that comes with not being able to be involved in your child’s life as often as you may like can be a hard pill to swallow. You shouldn’t allow those realities to lead you down a path toward belittling your co-parent in front of your child. It could adversely impact your ability to retain custody.
Can deprecating my co-parent really impact my custodial rights?
You bet it can. While it’s unlikely that an isolated utterance in the heat of the moment will result in your losing custody, constantly subjecting your children to your negative perceptions of your ex to brainwash your kids might. This is especially the case if you tell your children that your co-parent abused you (when they didn’t).
Parents who wage such false allegations do so in the hope that it will cause their child to see them more favorably and lead to them winning increased custody. These efforts can backfire.
If a judge gets wind that a situation like this is ongoing, then they’ll likely hold a hearing in which they’ll seek to get to the bottom of which parent is telling the truth. Therefore, you’ll want to come armed to that hearing with a solid argument and proof (if you have it) justifying your actions or statements.
The courts tend to agree that it’s best if children are raised by both their parents. Their first priority is to do what’s in the best interest of the child. Children being used as pawns by their parents generally doesn’t fit the bill of what a judge deems to be best for them and this is why parental alienation may impact a mom’s or dad’s custodial rights.
What should you do if you suspect parental alienation?
You should take time to compile any evidence of this phenomenon. Then begin building your case against your co-parent that you will present in court.