Information About Parental Alienation in Massachusetts
In highly contested divorce battles, children are often used as tokens. One parent seeks to win "custody" – often at the expense of the other parent who must settle for mere visitation and the "non-custodial" parenting label. Luckily, six months to a year after a divorce battle ends, the stress and conflict tends to dissipate and the parties and their children evolve into new chapters of their lives.
For a growing number of divorcing families, however, the drama never dissipates and the day-to-day conflict and hostility continue without a break. The biggest losers end-up being the children who find themselves at the center of their parents' dispute as they are caught in a "tug-of-war" between the two people who they love the most.
When one parent encourages a child to behave badly toward the other parent, manipulates the child into thinking of the parent in a negative manner, or deliberately attempts to distance the children from the other parent, it is quite possible that an alienating process is starting, or well underway.
If you feel the other parent or grandparents of your child are trying to physically, psychologically, or emotionally distance your child from you, it's important to speak with an experienced and aggressive family law attorney as soon as possible.
How Parental Alienation Is Viewed in the Middlesex, Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk Probate and Family Courts
Specific and ongoing acts of parental alienation are seen by the court as one parent acting contrary to the best interest of a child. With the proper legal argument, and help from a court-appointed evaluator, issues of parental fitness may be brought to the court's attention in order to rectify the problem and put the best interest of your child at the forefront of everybody's attention.
Parental alienation not only hurts the parent, but it is also damaging to an innocent child. When parental alienation continues to go on, it can damage or even destroy the important relationship between a parent and his or her child. The warning signs that exist include when the alienating parent:
- Gives the child a choice as to whether or not to visit with the other parent
- Tells the child details about the marital relationship or reasons for the divorce
- Refuses to acknowledge the child has clothes or toys at the other parent's house
- Resists to inform the other parent about the child's school- or medical-related issues
- Has little regard of the importance of contact with the other parent
Our Aggressive Representation Gives Clients the Help That They Need
The Parental Alienation Attorneys at The Massachusetts Family Law Group have earned the reputation as aggressive courtroom advocates for representing and defending both sides of the parental alienation argument. If your former spouse is interfering with the warm and loving relationship you have with your children, you need an attorney you can be comfortable with, who listens and understands you, who is sincerely interested in you and your case, and who will fight tirelessly for you to reclaim your role as a parent so you can rebuild the precious relationship you have with your children.
Clients often tell us how working with us is like holding a roadmap through the complex maze of the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court. We help our clients grasp issues, set out a clear court strategy, counter their spouse's dirty tricks, master skills of testifying, handle setbacks and adversity, and proceed effectively in contested matters. Call us at (800) 763-1030 or contact us by using our online form.
When we tackle parental alienation issues, we recommend clients take a proactive role in their case and begin a game plan which may include the following:
- Keeping a log of events as they happen, describing what happened and when.
- Getting counseling for your child, preferably with a therapist trained to recognize and treat parental alienation issues.
- Trying not to blame your child. Your child did not create the situation, and desperately needs your love and affection
The most common legal strategies we employ is going back to court and filing contempt actions – alleging that toxic environment surrounding your child is harmful to his or best interest – and putting a stop to the behavior before it becomes permanent and irreversible. We also file modification actions in cases of a parenting plan that needs more specificity as to regular, vacation, and holiday schedules, pick-up and drop-off responsibilities, and issues relating to each parents rights and responsibilities.
Not Getting Results From Your Current Attorney?
If your case is not going the way that you want, or you have lost confidence in your current attorney, consider hiring The Massachusetts Family Law Group. We have eight attorneys at our firm, we've represented cases in each of the different Probate and Family Courts, and one thing is for sure: your spouse and his or her attorney will know – in an instant – that you are serious once they hear that we are your lawyers.
When it Comes to Allegations of Parental Alienation, Each Courthouse Works Differently
If you're searching for names of aggressive attorneys who tackle parental alienation issues, make sure you put a top priority on one who has experience in the county having jurisdiction over your case. It will put you at an advantage because you'll do better with a lawyer who spends a good portion of his or her time at that courthouse and who has a working relationship with family services, court personnel, and the judge.
Our Founder and Lead Attorney Lucas M. assigns specific lawyers to specific courts where they held accountable to developing a reputation in that court that is second to none.
Call Us For a Case Evaluation
If you're wondering what to do next, taking advantage of or no-obligation consultation is the best move. Give us the specifics of your case, let an attorney hear your story, and we'll spell out your options for you.
Call (800) 763-1030 or contact us to schedule an appointment in Norwood, Worcester or Plymouth.
