Maine Parental Alienation Attorneys

Emotions often run high during Divorce or Parental Rights & Responsibilities Matters. Parents, however, must find healthy outlets for their stress and not involve their children in arguments between parents during a custody dispute. When one of the parents is speaking poorly about the other parent to the children or burdening the children with their opinions of the other parent, that parent may be engaging in Parental Alienation.

Co-parenting with your children’s other parent includes supporting and fostering a healthy relationship between your children and their other parent. Children can often pick up on a parent’s subtle comments or disapproval. Some children may feel as though they need to mimic your behavior or feelings toward the other parent to demonstrate loyalty. 

Parental Alienation may include the following:

• Encouraging the child to disrespect the other parent
• Encouraging the child to not want to be with or visit the other parent
• Disclosing information about an extramarital affair committed by the other parent
• Blaming the other parent of the divorce
• Blaming the other parent for financial problems
• Forcing the child to choose between the parents
• Forcing the child to favor one of the parents
• Not working well with the other parent in front of the child
• Listening to telephone calls between the other parent and the child
• Enticing the child with outings or gifts to not visit the other parent
• Encouraging the child to not follow the other parent’s rules during visits

Consistent Parental Alienation can severely negatively affect the relationship between the parent and the child. The Court is interested in promoting the “best interests of the child”.  These interests include forming and maintaining a healthy relationship with both parents. If one parent is trying to alienate the child from the other parent, this does not serve the child’s best interests. 

You may wish to petition the Court to order the other parent from engaging in such behavior. You may also wish to hire a Guardian ad litem to investigate the situation and provide advice to the Court if the Parental Alienation is severe.

A Family Law Trial Lawyer will help you assess your situation and recommend further steps to ensure that the relationship between you and your child is not tainted by the other parent’s inappropriate behavior.