The 25 April 2023 is Parental Alienation Awareness Day. Parental Alienation occurs in relationship breakdowns where children are involved. Unfortunately, this can cause significant emotional harm to a child/children in what can already be an uncertain and distressing time for them.
What is Parental Alienation?
Unfortunately, there is no fixed or single definition for Parental Alienation. According to CAFCASS parental alienation is ‘when a child’s hostility towards one parent is not justified and is the result of psychological manipulation by the other parent’.
5 Signs of Parental Alienation
- Children are unusually angry with you.
- Other parent attempts to keep children away from you.
- Other parent makes negative statements about you to children.
- Your children appear guilty when spending time with you.
- Other parent makes false accusations about abuse.
What can the Courts do?
Unfortunately, there is no law in the UK for dealing with parental alienation. That said, family courts can and will step in when a child’s welfare suffers as a result.
There’s a presumption that it’s in a child’s best interest to have a positive relationship with both their parents. The Court’s paramount consideration is the welfare of the children and will always, unless safeguarding concerns apply, promote a positive relationship with both parents.
It is important to note that Parental Alienation can cause a relationship breakdown between the child/children and the alienated parent. Unless there are safeguarding concerns, the Court may be critical of such behaviour and the implications it may have emotionally on the child/children.
Should you require legal advice please contact our specialist Family Law Team at Martyn Prowel Gartsides Solicitors on 01633 213411 or 02920 470909 and one of our highly trained and experienced members of the family law team will be willing to assist.