Dallas Child Support & Custody Modification Lawyers

Divorce can be a breeding ground for resentment. Many divorcing spouses find their already-rocky relationship further disintegrating as they navigate the divorce process. Though a contentious relationship may not significantly affect a divorcing couple without children, couples who have children together should make every effort to cooperate and maintain a civil relationship to protect their children’s best interests.

Even after a divorce, a couple who has a child together will have to maintain ongoing communication to facilitate their conservatorship plan and visitation schedule. If one parent resents the other, those contentious feelings can manifest signs of parental alienation, which only serves to negatively affect the children involved.

If you believe that you are the victim of parental alienation, it may be time to get a lawyer involved. With the help of our Dallas parental alienation attorneys at Lisa G. Garza Family Law Group, you can protect your relationship with your child and may even be able to modify your conservatorship plan to better meet your needs and prevent the other parent from affecting your family further.

What Is Parental Alienation?

Parental alienation occurs when one parent takes action against the other to disparage them and damage their relationship with the children they share.

You may be the victim of parental alienation if the other parent of your child:

• Tells your child that they are better off without you
• Blames you for the breakup and/or divorce
• Refuses to give you access to the child’s school, medical, or other records
• Prevents you from visiting the child or spending time with them
• Persuades the child to insult you or refuse to see you
• Makes the child believe you do not want to see them
• Asks your child about your personal life
• Tells your child to spy on you and gather information about you

Parental alienation is especially problematic because it brings innocent children into the parents’ personal problems. At its core, it is a form of emotional child abuse.

The Warning Signs of Parental Alienation

It can be hard to know if you are the victim of parental alienation. These situations are usually not cut-and-dry. That’s why it is important to familiarize yourself with the red flags that often indicate alienation. Warning signs of parental alienation include:

If you sense any ongoing change in your relationship with your child and you feel unable to get through to the other parent, consult with a Dallas parental alienation lawyer at our firm.

Take Legal Action against Parental Alienation

Because parental alienation has not been recognized as an official condition by psychiatrists, Texas courts do not have any laws or standards by which to pinpoint or evaluate its effects on children. Even so, you may have legal options to hold the other parent accountable for their actions.

Our team at Lisa G. Garza Family Law Group can help you take the right path forward, which may include:

• Finding the other parent in contempt of court if they are violating a custody order
• Requesting a psychological evaluation for both the child and the other parent to prove grounds for a custody modification
• Seeking a parental coordinator or facilitator to monitor the other parent’s behavior and ensure compliance with court orders
• Requesting a guardian ad litem to assess the child’s living environment

Parental alienation cases are best handled on a case-by-case basis. Our parental alienation lawyers in Dallas can assess your situation and determine the next steps you should take to combat the abuse and rebuild your relationship with your child.