Parental alienation involves psychological manipulation where one parent encourages a child to reject or harbour negative emotions toward the other parent.
An example of this can be where one parent consistently speaks negatively about the other parent in front of the child, or where one parent simply makes contact with another parent so difficult that the time between the alienated parent and child is not sufficient to maintain a healthy relationship.
Parental alienation does not encompass instances where a child decides to distance themselves from a parent due to their own experiences, such as witnessing family violence or having negative interactions with that parent.
Although the Family Law Act (1975) does not explicitly reference ‘parental alienation’, its fundamental principles are designed to address situations indicative of such behaviour.
The Court has resources to address situations where a child’s relationship with one parent is being negatively impacted.
These resources include imposing Parenting Orders and soliciting expert testimony to evaluate family dynamics.
If you think your child might be experiencing parental alienation, it’s important to get legal and professional help to protect your child’s best interests.
Shelly Brown, Paralegal, Catton & Tondelstrand Lawyers, Kon-Tiki Business Centre Tower 1, Level 3 Suite 315, 55 Plaza Parade Maroochydore, 5609 4933, ctlawyers.com.au.
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