In the ideal world, parents divorce or split up but can still provide quality support and care to their child. However, there are times when parents do not agree on various factors related to custody or the child’s upbringing. Parental alienation occurs, a deliberate act in which one parent aims to make the child fear or dislike the other parent. Understanding parental alienation in California is critical.

At Diarian & Bociaga, our Sherman Oaks child custody attorney can help you navigate what happens when parental alienation influences your relationship with a child.

Examples of Parental Alienation

It is critical to ensure your child is not subjected to disparaging claims made by you about the other parent or about you. Most parents may not do this intentionally, but in other cases, simple statements may be used out of context. It can matter. Under Rule 5.250, the court may use the child’s wishes and testimony to make decisions about custody later.

The following are examples of statements that could be parental alienation:

• One parent makes a statement that is a lie about the other parent.
• A parent consistently makes coitizing statements about the other’s parenting skills or methods.
• One person undermines the parental authority of the other, such as a statement like “You don’t have to listen to that.”
• A parent ignores parental and custody orders put into place by the court.
• A parent talks negatively about the other parent in front of the child or in communication with other parties around the child.
• One parent shares accurate or inaccurate information about the activities the other parent is engaging in with the child, such as “Do you know what your mother is doing every weekend?”
• One or both parents refuse to abide by the details of the parenting plan.

Why Parental Alienation Is So Critical

When children are subjected to statements of hate, loathing, or anger made by one parent against the other, they experience a strong negative impact. As a result of such communication, children often distance themselves from one or both parents, which is not fair to the child in any way.

If you are unsure if your child has suffered harm through parental alienation, consider these warning signs:

• The child makes statements that are inaccurate about you.
• The child consistently supports the other parent’s views and statements over your own, even if you know your statements are accurate.
• A sudden or significant change in behavior with one parent occurs, often without any clear reason for it.
• Dislike for your family without provocation or reason, especially if this is a new occurrence.
• Making statements that the child would not normally make, which may stem from repeating the terms used by the alienating parent.

As wrong as parental alienation is, it is not outright a crime under California law. However, if the court believes it is occurring, it can impact decisions about custody and visitation between the alienating parent and the child. The court is, in all cases, supportive of the child’s best interests, and that often lies in having both parents a positive part of their lives.

Call Our Sherman Oaks Child Custody Attorneys Today

At Diarian & Bociaga, we recognize the emotional complexity of every relationship. If you need help navigating child custody matters related to parental alienation, contact us for a consultation.