Parental alienation comes in many forms. This includes putting the targeted parent in a bad light, intercepting communication between the child and the other parent and making false accusations. But probably the most common type of parental alienation is allegations of domestic violence. And in these cases, it becomes a “he-said-she-said” scenario.
Perspective 1: The parent alleging the abuse
Parents alleging domestic violence usually hold primary custody of their children, whether permanent or while custody hearings are ongoing. They usually bring this argument during child custody cases because courts give valuable weight to any history of domestic violence when deciding primary custody and visitation rights.
Perspective 2: The parent alleging alienation
To counter the allegation, the targeted parent would argue that the other party manipulated the child into believing they are dangerous and abusive to create a rift in their relationship. Moreover, they usually claim that the other parent used domestic abuse allegations to secure child custody.
The importance of knowing the truth
Domestic violence cases require prompt action to prevent further abuse if the accusations are true. However, the courts must also take careful measures to ensure no mistakes when deciding on the case.
If the court finds a parent guilty of parental alienation, but it turns out that their domestic violence allegations are true, it will result in double victimization. After suffering from abuse, that parent would also go through the pain of having their children removed from their care or face imprisonment because of the parental alienation charges.
On the other hand, if the court finds the accused parent not guilty of parental alienation but the targeted parent turns out to be telling the truth, they will suffer from their child’s rejection and custody rights removal.
Whether you are a parent suffering from abuse or alienation, you need to establish a strong case, which includes gathering the necessary evidence to prove your claim and working with a legal professional to set your arguments straight.