Parental alienation in Connecticut courts is an increasingly familiar term, especially in contentious child custody disputes. Its effects can be very damaging to children, families and targeted parents. In an extreme cases, it can be grounds to award the non-offending parent custody.
Dr. Richard Gardner first identified parental alienation in the 1980’s. According to him, there are three main characteristics:
- It arises primarily in child custody disputes
- The child denigrates one parent without justification
- It results from manipulation by one parent who vilifies the “target” parent
There are three degrees of alienation: mild, moderate and severe.
Mild alienation involves a parent who loses control and makes negative comments about the other parent to the child, but later feels remorse. Many parents in high conflict custody cases engage in this behavior. However, eventually their emotions fade and they realize that a healthy relationship between the other parent and child is best for the child.
Severe alienation occurs when a parent has a very specific agenda to sabotage the parent child relationship. It includes a parent disparaging the other parent in the presence of the child and manipulating the child into believing that the other parent does not love them or want to spend time with them.
In Connecticut, our best interest statute does not specifically mention parental alienation. However, there are three “best interest factors” that smell like it:
- The willingness of and the ability of each parent to facilitate encourage a parent-child relationship
- Manipulation or coercive behavior of a parent in an effort to involve the child in the parent’s dispute
- The mental health of all parties.
Parental alienation is painful for the targeted parent, unfair to the child and detrimental to family relationships. Therefore, it is important to recognize the signs to stop its harmful effects.
If you are being prevented from having a parent-child relationship then do something. Doing nothing gets you nothing. I will answerr your questions and help you explore your legal options. Contact me online or call my Fairfield office at (203) 259-5251 or my Stamford office at (203) 356-1475 to discuss your parental alienation in Connecticut.