Parental alienation is a painful issue that can affect families during or after divorce. When one parent turns their child against the other parent, it can have a profound impact for years and require resources like time and therapy to overcome. Illinois law recognizes parental alienation as a form of child abuse and seeks to help families address it. If suspicions are proven, it can lead to changes in the custody arrangement. If you are concerned that your child’s other parent is manipulating them to ruin your relationship, speak with a skilled DuPage County, IL family law attorney about your options.
How Does Parental Alienation Work?
One of the biggest concerns parents voice when considering divorce is how it will affect their children. Typical parents try to shield their children from the negative atmosphere that a divorce can create. Unfortunately, some parents, generally in particularly contentious divorces, try to make their child stop trusting or liking their other parent. Alienation can be the result of direct actions, for example hindering the other parent’s visitation or speaking negatively to the child about them. It can also happen through more subtle methods of manipulating the child’s opinion.