Prevention of the disintegration of families is such an important goal that judges, traditionally cautious, practical, and careful, can be enlisted to actively try to reverse the effects of a family’s crisis.
When it appears that a child has been alienated from a parent, or soon will be, the necessity for judicial action is especially powerful. This article highlights the psychological issues involved in alienation, the remedies recommended by the mental health community, and the case law establishing the legal authority for court orders to address this critical problem in families.
