The devastating and disruptive effects of parental alienating behaviors—one parent’s actions to manipulate a child into taking on the inaccurate belief that their other parent is unloving or even dangerous—are evident in a significant number of high-conflict divorce and custody matters. But with little court precedent and some dispute by psychologists over the syndrome, how can New Jersey family lawyers safeguard clients and their relationship with their children?

The Gray Area of Parental Alienation

Whenever a client experiencing parental alienation issues comes in seeking help because their child no longer wants to see them, it is heartbreaking. Tragically, parental alienation is not rare: alienating behaviors are estimated to be present in as many as 1 in 5 (20%) of all high-conflict divorce and custody cases. The end result of unchecked alienation can be a child who refuses all contact with the targeted parent, resulting in a rupture of the parent-child relationship.