Q: Should you do something?

YES. If you are worried that your children are being alienated from you, you need to take immediate action. Alienation is a form of abuse and it must be stopped. Parental alienation can cause devastating psychological harm for parents and children, and it may forever affect your relationship with your child.

Question 1

What is parental alienation?

Accepted Answer

Parental alienation is a deliberate effort by one parent to cause the child to withdraw from or reject the other parent. Parents who indulge in this type of behavior may use harmful words or conduct to create a division between the other parent and the child. They may create estrangement or even hostility between the child and the victimized parent.

Question 2

How does parental alienation occur?

Accepted Answer

The perpetrating parent may use many methods that cause the child to completely withdraw from the other parent, such as:

Disparagements, insults, or derogatory language about the victim parent
Undermining the victim parent’s authority
Using conditional love to manipulate the child
Involving the child in adult issues, such as the details of a divorce
Forcing the child to choose who they want to live with
Improper parental substitution, such as asking a child to call the perpetrating parent’s partner “dad” or “mom” when the victim parent is still alive and in the child’s life
Lying to the child about the victim parent
False allegations of domestic violence or child abuse
Enforcing the parental schedule to hurt the victim parent
Asking the children to choose one parent over the other

Question 3

What are the warning signs of parental alienation?

Accepted Answer

Parental alienation may start small after a divorce or separation and not be immediately apparent, but these are some of the signs that can help you identify it:

The child shows a sudden negative change in attitude toward one parent
The child perceives one parent as the cause of all problems
The child has knowledge of private details related to the legal aspects of the divorce
The child appears uneasy around one parent
The child is unhappy, withdrawn, or depressed while at the same time withdrawing from a parent

Question 4

How is parental alienation handled by the San Diego courts?

Accepted Answer

California courts have acknowledged parental alienation as a real problem; however, such cases are not assumed and must be established to the court. Typically, an attorney who specializes in San Diego parental alienation cases will put together a case plan establishing the alienation by evidence. To effectively bring an accusation of parental alienation before a San Diego court, a family law attorney may utilize expert witnesses like:

Family members
Testimony by child psychologists or therapists
Child custody evaluators
Minor’s council

In addition to witnesses, an attorney may utilize relevant social media posts, text messages, voice mails, letters, holiday cards, and any other physical or digital communication between the perpetrating parent and a child. Some of this information is readily available, such as public social media posts or messages made over the victim parent’s cellular plan, however other communications may require a subpoena from a judge.

In cases where alienation is severe, the only resolution is to remove the child from the home of the alienating parent and place them with the victim parent. It is critical for the victim or alienated parent to push the court for quicker action because the longer the delay, the more the alienation will grow, and it may have lifelong aftereffects. Psychologists have pushed for the court system to acknowledge parental alienation as a form of abuse, not just for the child, but also for the victim parent, as stated by researchers at Colorado State University. Taking legal action is imperative to minimizing the damage it does to the parent-child relationship.

Question 5

Should you do something?

Accepted Answer

YES. If you are worried that your children are being alienated from you, you need to take immediate action. Alienation is a form of abuse and it must be stopped. Parental alienation can cause devastating psychological harm for parents and children, and it may forever affect your relationship with your child.

Question 6

What can I do about parental alienation in San Diego?

Accepted Answer

Contact an experienced San Diego family law attorney right away to discuss your legal options. Mattis Law, A.P.C. offers free initial consultations. Our lawyers can help you protect your rights as a parent and preserve your relationship with your children. Call us at (858) 224-0754.

Question 7

How does Mattis Law, A.P.C. combat parental alienation?

Accepted Answer

Parental alienation is a basis to modify your child custody order in California. The first step in this process is to file a motion to modify child custody. If the alienation is extreme enough, then the court may grant an expedited hearing. At the hearing, the judge can make a temporary modification to the visitation schedule pending a trial to determine if the change should be permanent.

Our lawyers will take immediate action against acts of parental alienation. At your initial consultation, we will determine which remedy is best requested from the court, given your particular circumstances. We will get your motions filed as soon as possible, and if appropriate, will request that the hearing date be moved up. We will be sure to include all relevant evidence, such as emails, text messages, and sworn statements, so that the judge is made aware of the situation's severity. Our firm has a record of getting results in San Diego child custody cases that other firms found impossible.

San Diego Parental Alienation Attorneys

Parental Alienation in San Diego Custody Matters

Client Testimonial

Q. What is parental alienation?

Q. How does parental alienation occur?

Q. What are the warning signs of parental alienation?

Q. How is parental alienation handled by the San Diego courts?

Q. Should you do something?

Q. What can I do about parental alienation in San Diego?

Q. How does Mattis Law, A.P.C. combat parental alienation?