Connecticut cases of parental alienation seem to be increasing. Or at least cases I am familiar with.
There are many reasons why a child might not have a positive relationship with a parent. Many times, it is the parent’s own actions or in actions, which has caused the estrangement. It is too easy (and tempting) to blame the other parent. Unverified and baseless claims of parental alienation find there way into divorce, custody and visitation cases far too often.
But sometimes the other parent actually has engaged in parental alienation.
Here are warning signs of alienating behavior:
- Blaming the other parent for the divorce or breakup
- Denying access to school and medical records
- Refusing to be flexible with parenting time
- Scheduling activities for the child on the other parent’s time
- Putting the child in the middle of any conflict by using them as messenger
- Asking the child to choose one parent over the other
- Encouraging the child dislike or have anger toward the other parent
- Being upset when the child has a good time with the other parent
- Eavesdropping on the conversations with the child and other parent
This list is not intended to be exhaustive – there are countless other examples.
As I have said before, our best interest statute in Connecticut does not specifically mention parental alienation. However, a few factors in the statute sure smell like it. For example:
- The willingness of each parent to facilitate and encourage the relationship with the other parent
- Any manipulative or coercive behavior by the parent to involve the child in the parent’s dispute.
- The mental health of the parents.
There has been an increase in the awareness of parental alienation in Connecticut custody and visitation cases and the courts have shown little tolerance when it is properly identified. Some judges have gone so far as to award the non-offending parent full custody and only allow the offending parent supervised visitation.
Connecticut Parental Alienation Attorney
I represent clients in custody and parental alienation cases though out Fairfield County including those who reside in Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Trumbull, Stratford, Bridgeport, Westport, Weston, New Canaan, Wilton, Norwalk, Darien, Stamford and Greenwich.
Please email me or call me in Stamford at (203) 356-1475 or in Fairfield at (203) 259-5251 if you wish to discuss Connecticut cases of parental alienation.