When a set of Missouri parents decide to end their marriage, they understand the decision will have a significant impact on the lives of their children. When the parents work together as a team for the sake of their kids and cooperate in matters such as child custody, property division and other issues, there is a good likelihood the children will be able to cope in a healthy manner. However, when kids are constantly exposed to conflict in a divorce, or are exploited by a parental alienation scheme, it can wreak havoc on their well-being.
It can take a long time for the rejected parent to be able to restore his or her relationship with the children. Such situations cause severe mental and emotional trauma. It is important to know where to seek immediate support if one parent is systematically trying to turn kids against the other parent following a divorce.
Signs of parental alienation
It’s understandable that children may experience periods of sorrow, confusion or anger as they navigate their parents’ divorce. However, if a child exhibits any of the behaviors shown in the following list, it is possible parental alienation is occurring:
- Child speaks negatively against one parent and is extremely loyal to the other
- Child states an opinion that is clearly just parroting what one parent has said about the other
- Child makes a point to announce that he is not being led to reject his or her parent
- Child refuses to see or speak to a parent, especially if their relationship used to be close
These are common symptoms of parental alienation following a divorce. A concerned parent may seek the court’s intervention to resolve such issues.
Parents must comply with divorce decree
When a child custody agreement is signed or a court order issued, both parents must adhere to the terms. An attorney experienced in child custody litigation can provide support to a parent who has fallen victim to parental alienation in a divorce. A parent may seek sole custody if the other parent is placing their children at risk.
