What to do when falsely accused of parental alienation

Child custody disputes can become more contentious than many expect, resulting in serious allegations being lobbed by each parent. This can include accusations that one parent has engaged in parental alienation. If you’re on the receiving end of parental alienation claims, then you have to move swiftly to protect yourself given the seriousness of these allegations. If you don’t, then the court might buy into the arguments made by the other parent, which could result in an order that significantly restricts your time and relationship with your child.

But what’s the best way to go about building a defense to parental alienation allegations? Let’s take a closer look at some strategies that you might be able to implement in your case.

Tips for defending yourself against parental alienation allegations

Although confronting false claims of can be stressful, especially when they can impact your relationship with your child, you should take some comfort knowing that there are steps you can take to protect yourself from them in your child custody case. These include doing the following:

• Attacking inconsistencies: One of the strongest tactics you can utilize here is attacking the reliability of the other parent’s accusations. One way to do that is to highlight inconsistencies in their accounts and point out how their story differs from that portrayed by other evidence, such as testimony from other witnesses or relevant records. If you’re effective here, the court won’t buy into the accusations that have been levied against you.
• Using an expert: A mental health expert who is familiar with parental alienation will be able to pick up on it quickly. On the flip side, if they don’t see signs of parental alienation, then they’ll be able to confidently debunk alienation-related allegations. So, consider whether you can find an expert who can assess the circumstances of your case and render a well-founded opinion in your favor.
• Keeping a log: Documenting your involvement in your child’s life can go a long way toward showing positive interactions with your child and the bond that you share with them. This can dismantle alienation allegations and speak to how any modification of custody or visitation against you isn’t in your child’s best interests.
• Identifying witnesses: Even if you can’t directly contradict the allegations lobbed by the other parent, you can present evidence that discredits claims that you’ve implemented a manipulative strategy to control your child. Witness testimony can be particularly powerful here, especially if it’s from someone who knows you and the child well.
• Asking for a child custody evaluation: A child custody evaluation uses a third-party to assess the dynamics of your family and the role each parent plays in raising the child. It culminates in a written report to the court, which is often heavily relied upon when rendering a child custody determination. Since this holistic assessment is conducted by an unbiased individual, they should be able to say whether they spot signs of parental alienation occurring.

Aggressively fight to protect your child’s best interests

There’s a lot at stake when child custody is on the line and you’ve been accused of parental alienation. Your first instinct might be to strike back at the other parent, but you should be more strategic than that. So, consider working closely with your attorney to figure out the best way to craft your legal arguments so that you can advocate for your child’s best interests as effectively as possible.