Parental alienation is a very sensitive issue during the divorce process. Although divorce often results from parents not getting along, Florida courts still encourage healthy parenting and a fair time-sharing schedule. The court usually frowns at an ill-faith relationship when a parent tries to turn the child against the other parent.

Sadly, proving parental alienation can be tricky due to the difficulty in gathering and providing evidence. However, you can still push a strong case when you know the right things to look out for and acts to document. Read on to find out how to strongly prove an act of parental alienation in Florida.

What is Parental Alienation?

Parental alienation is an intentional act of a parent to manipulate a child against the other parent. The acts of the offending parents are usually aimed at hurting the child’s relationship with the other parent. It involves emotional manipulation that makes a child want to withdraw or stay away from the targeted parent.

This act of parental alienation might cause the child to think that the targeted parent doesn’t love them enough. In extreme scenarios, the child might believe being around the targeted parent is unsafe for untrue reasons.

Parental alienation is considered a form of emotional manipulation and unsafe for the child. Consequently, Florida courts protect a child from such since they act in the child’s best interest. The court usually encourages co-parenting and custody plans that foster the child’s relationship with both parents, provided they are both “fit” to parent the child.

Proving Parental Alienation in Court

Since parental alienation mostly happens after divorce, laying claims and gathering evidence might be challenging. Sadly, most victims don’t notice child alienation until it is almost too late, especially if the offending party is the custodial parent.

Below are effective ways to prove an act of parental alienation in Florida courts.

• Show proof that the offending partner makes disrespectful comments about you to the child
• Note and report scenarios of access and contact blocking between you and your child by your former partner
• Note and show evidence of a deteriorating relationship between you and your child since the separation
• Report scenarios where the offending partner uses the child to communicate negative messages to you
• Report when your partner fails to honor or comply with the child custody arrangement
• Pay attention and make detailed reports when a child is made to feel guilty for interacting with you

Wrapping Up

The list of possible parental alienation scenarios is exhaustive, making it difficult to prove your case. However, hiring an experienced family lawyer will make proving your claim easier and faster. Since Florida courts protect a child’s best interest and parental alienation can cause a lot of emotional damage to the child, you might be able to make a strong case for the rearrangement of custody.