Is your ex lying about abuse and interfering with or denying visits?

Parental Alienation is child abuse!

A divorce or custody dispute almost always has some negative effect on a child involved and occasionally on his/her relationship with one or both parents.  It is the responsibility of the parents to minimize these harmful effects and help the child sort through the complex emotions he/she is experiencing.  Sometimes, however, a parent actually feeds or instigates a child’s negative feelings toward the other parent.  Whether the parent does it intentionally or unintentionally, it can seriously hinder the child’s relationship with the other parent.  When a parent does this on a regular basis, it is known as Parental Alienation or Hostile Aggressive Parenting and can lead to Parental Alienation Syndrome.  Parental Alienation is not just a matter of making the other parent uncomfortable or feel bad, it is very damaging to the child’s emotional and mental development and needs to be stopped as soon as possible.  Benger Law Firm can help the targeted parent do just that.

Cases involving Parental Alienation are complicated and frequently volatile, perhaps more than any other area of family law.  When the alienating parent is confronted with what he/she is doing or faces the possibility of losing control over the child’s relationship with the other parent, the alienating parent often becomes unpredictable and highly manipulative.  At this time, the target parent may be in greater danger of false allegations, such as allegations of physical or sexual abuse.  In severe cases, the child may even be “brain-washed” into believing the alleged abuse actually occurred.  Such allegations can affect every aspect of your life, including your career, relationships and reputation.  Thus, it is very important for the target parent to have a knowledgeable and compassionate attorney as early in the case as possible.

Many lawyers and judges do not understand Parental Alienation and/or the seriousness of the impact on the child.  Benger Law Firm has experience handling these cases and explaining them to judges so they can make proper rulings to protect the target parent and the child from this abuse.  We will refer you to therapists and other professionals familiar with Parental Alienation issues and work with them so your case is handled appropriately at every level.    
You have a right to an unobstructed relationship with your child without the interference of the other parent!  Whether you want to seek full custody or just protect yourself and your child from the disastrous effects of Parental Alienation, Benger Law Firm can help.  If you are not sure if you are a target of Parental Alienation or what you need to do to stop it, call us or fill out the form to the right, and we will contact you promptly to schedule your initial consultation.

Note: Although this page discusses Parental Alienation as it pertains to parents, it is important to note that any family member, guardian or caregiver can be the target or perpetrator of Parental Alienation.  If you believe you are being alienated from a child in your life, contact Benger Law Firm to discuss your rights!

What is Parental Alienation/Hostile Aggressive Parenting?

A general pattern of manipulative behavior and/or comments by a parent that directly or indirectly; 1) Interferences with a child’s relationship with the other parent; 2) Promotes an unwarranted inequality in the parenting arrangement; or 3) Promotes ongoing and unnecessary conflict between the parents that has a negative effect on the interests and well-being of the child.

What is Parental Alienation Syndrome?

Most often seen in children affected by a high-conflict divorce or custody dispute, it is an abnormal psychological condition that adversely impacts a child’s relationship with his/her parent in several identifiable and dysfunctional ways and that the cause of which can be reasonably connected to manipulative behaviors and/or comments of the other parent.  The most common symptom is severe opposition to contact with or strong hatred toward the target parent with little or no logical cause.  Effects of PAS are often tragic and may last a lifetime.  

Are you the target of Parental Alienation?

Does your child’s other parent do the following:

• Badmouth you in front of your child and at every opportunity?

• Refuse to answer the phone when you call?

• Listen into your phone conversations with your child?

• Attempt to convince your child to change his/her last name?

• Play on your child's feelings of guilt and/or sympathy?

• Use your child as a weapon against you and/or other family members?

• Tell you that your child does not want to speak to you?

• Encourage your child to disobey or disrespect you?

• Give your child a choice whether to visit you or not?

• Tell your child details about the marital relationship and/or divorce?

• Speak inappropriately to your child about your current girlfriend/boyfriend?

• Resist or refuse to allow you access to school or medical records?

• Resist or refuse to allow you to participate in extracurricular activities?

• Schedule your child in so many activities that you rarely get time to visit with your child?

• Ask your child to choose one parent over the other?

• Use your child to spy on you or gather information for your ex?

• Make demands on you that are not conditions of the court orders?