One of the most important things for a Virginia parent during a divorce is preserving the relationship he or she has with the kids. When a marriage ends, it can bring out strong emotions that one parent may struggle to manage, even after the divorce is final. Negative feelings toward the other parent can eventually begin to affect custody and visitation arrangements, possibly leading to an issue called parental alienation.
A serious problem for any parent
Parental alienation occurs when one parent actively tries to sabotage the relationship a child has with his or her other parent. This is usually the result of lingering feelings of anger or frustration over a divorce. While parental alienation can be different in each situation, it can include keeping the other parent from seeing the kids, manipulating situations to make the other parent look bad and affecting how the children view their other parent.
Long-term parental alienation can alter how a child perceives one of his or her parents. It can have a genuine psychological impact on the kids, and it can undermine what was once a strong parent-child relationship. Parents may have to fight for an appropriate remedy to this, which may include make-up parenting time, counseling and more.
Preserving an important relationship
A parent has the right to fight for his or her parental rights. If parental alienation is a problem, a Virginia parent has the right to seek a legal resolution to ongoing concerns. For those facing these situations, it may be helpful to speak with a knowledgeable family law attorney who can provide insight on how to best move forward.