Child alienation, also called parental alienation, is a phenomenon where one parent negatively influences a child’s perception of the other parent. This negative influence can be intentional or unintentional and can sometimes become a major point of contention in divorce cases wherechild custody is an issue.
Why Does Child Alienation Happen?
Sometimes, child alienation is intentional and done to influence the custody battle. For example, one parent may try to get the child to say they would prefer to live with them full-time by talking about how much worse living with their other parent will be.
In other cases of intentional child alienation, the goal may be to ruin the child’s relationship with the other parent. One parent might make comments around the child about how the other parent is the one responsible for the separation.
Not all child alienation is intentional, though. One parent may vent about the other to the child, not realizing how this can impact the child. Or, the child may overhear one parent venting about the other to a friend. While these disparaging remarks may not have been deliberate on the part of the parent making them, the results can be the same as though they were.
Why Is Child Alienation Important to Identify?
A parent who recognizes the signs of child alienation is better able to get help and protect their relationship with their child. Unchecked alienation can lead to stress, depression, and anxiety, which then may lead to poor academic performance and other issues.
Alienation can also affect the court’s child custody decision. Michigan family courts look to of the Michigan Compiled Laws to determine the “best interests of the child,” the standard they apply to all matters of child custody. One of these factors, (j), is each parent’s willingness to encourage a close parent-child relationship between the child and the other parent. Factor (i) is the child’s reasonable preference. Critically, if one parent alienated the child’s affection for the other parent, the child’s preference may no longer be reasonable. This was the critical matter in question in _Maier v. Maier_.
Maier v. Maier
In[Maier v Maier, the child’s mother wanted the court to interview her child to determine which parent he preferred to live with. However, the court declined to interview the child due to his young age (9), his anxiety and ADHD, and concerns that his mother coached him on what to say during the interview.
Due to these factors, the court determined that even if an interview occurred, the child could not provide a reasonable preference. Ultimately, the court ruled in favor of the father, granting him full custody.
Child Custody Attorney Serving Michigan
Do you suspect that your ex-spouse or co-parent is attempting to negatively influence your child’s perception of you? If so,contact the Smith Law Offices, P.C. Our team of experienced child custody attorneys serving Michigan will evaluate your case and work to get you the custody rights you deserve.
