I have seen a significant increase in the number of cases involving claims of parental alienation in Connecticut.   Are there really more PAS cases? I doubt it. Put on any label you want on it. The traditional behaviors that are the hallmark of parental alienation have been around as long as custody and visitation battles. However, I do believe that there is a heightened awareness in the court system given the devastation that alienation wreaks on families.

Here is a very academic definition of PAS: “a mental condition in which a child, usually one whose parents are engaged in a high conflict divorce, allies himself or herself strongly with one parent, and rejects a relationship with the other parent, without legitimate justification.”

I think of it as a deliberate attempt by one parent (the offending parent) to distance their child from the other parent (the targeted parent). Or down to its simplest definition: “emotional child abuse.”

In Connecticut, our best interest statute does not mention parental alienation. However, among the factors a judge may consider in making parenting plan decisions include the willingness and ability of each parent to facilitate and encourage a continuing parent-child relationship between the child and the other parent. A judge may also consider any manipulation or coercive behavior of the parents in an effort to involve the child in the parent’s dispute. While not specifically called PAS both of these factors certainly smell like it.

There is spirited debate amongst lawyers, judges and mental health professionals on how best to address parental alienation. Some say family therapy. Others take a more drastic approach and advocate awarding custody to the non-offending parent.

One thing is certain though: when alienation exists, it must be met head on during the divorce. An offending parent must be called out on their behavior before any more damage is done.

Contact me online  or call me in my Stamford office at (203) 356-1475 or in my Fairfield office at (203) 259-5251 to discuss a case of potential parental alienation in Connecticut.

CategoryDivorce

© 2018 by Brian D. Kaschel Law Office. All rights
reserved. Disclaimer l Site Map l Privacy Policy l
Website by Six7 Marketing

logo-footer