Am I a Victim of Parental Alienation?

 Posted on November 28, 2024 in Family Law

Parental alienation is when one parent deliberately tries to undermine the other parent’s relationship with their child. This can be devastating for both the child and the alienated parent. While Illinois courts recognize this, it can be hard to determine what constitutes parental alienation. If you think you are the victim of parental alienation, speak with a knowledgeable Skokie, IL family law attorney to understand your options.

What is Parental Alienation?

Parental alienation is when a parent manipulates a child’s feelings toward the other parent, hoping to damage or even eliminate the child’s relationship with that parent. This can happen in different ways, for example:

• Making verbal statements: Making negative or false statements about the other parent, such as accusing them of being neglectful or harmful, so the child can hear.

• Undermining the other parent's authority: Bad-mouthing the other parent in front of the child, refusing to follow visitation orders, or encouraging the child to disrespect the other parent.

• Interfering with communication: Blocking phone calls, text messages, or other forms of communication between the child and the alienated parent to damage their relationship.

• Pressuring the child to pick a side: Making the child feel guilty for wanting to spend time with the other parent and making the child think he or she cannot have a nice relationship with both parents.

Over time, this type of behavior can damage the child’s relationship with the other parent, sometimes to the point of rejection.

How Do Illinois Courts Handle Accusations of Parental Alienation?

Illinois family judges take parental alienation seriously, as it can undermine the child’s best interests. If there are allegations of parental alienation, Illinois courts take several steps to address the issue, including:

• Evaluating the child’s best interests: Examining the child’s relationship with both parents and the impact of alienation on the child’s emotional and psychological state.

• Appointing a Guardian ad Litem (GAL): The court may appoint a Guardian ad Litem (GAL), a neutral third party who advocates for the child’s best interests. The GAL conducts an independent investigation into the allegations, interviews both parents, the child, and any relevant witnesses, and presents their findings to the court.

• Psychological evaluation: The court can order a psychological evaluation of the child, parents, or the entire family to assess the situation. Evaluators can help determine if a child’s reluctance to see a parent is due to alienation or something else.

How is Parental Alienation Addressed?

If a court finds one parent guilty of parental alienation, it can change the family’s custody arrangement. To protect the child from further psychological harm, the court might grant primary custody to the alienated parent or order supervised visitation for the alienating parent. The court can also impose sanctions, including reduced visitation or, in extreme cases, contempt of court charges for failing to follow custody orders.

Contact a Cook County, IL Family Law Attorney

If you believe you are a victim of parental alienation, you do not need to deal with this distressing situation on your own. An experienced Chicago, IL parental rights lawyer from The Law Offices of Curtis Bennett Ross, L.L.C. can guide you as you document the behavior and request court intervention, and represent you in court. Call 312-984-1514 to schedule a private consultation.