Disagreements and anger about the end of a marriage can cause a spouse to lash out at their former partner in whatever ways they can. In some cases, that conflict can also harm a child’s relationship with one parent.
Parental alienation can affect an Illinois divorce when one parent tries to turn a child against the other parent, and it comes up when the court decides parenting issues. If you are facing parental alienation during a divorce in 2026, a Lombard, IL family law attorney can help you address the problem.
What Does Parental Alienation Look Like in an Illinois Divorce?
Parental alienation is a term created in the 1980s by the child psychiatrist Dr. Richard Gardner. Gardner used this term to describe what happens when a parent tries to make their children dislike the other parent or harm their relationship. Examples can include:
- Making negative comments about the other parent to the child