Litigating Parental Alienation Claims: Strategies, Investigation, Obtaining Evidence, Role of Experts, Intervention

Description

Ever more frequently, family lawyers are having to defend claims of alleged "parental alienation," which supposedly occurs when a child is deliberately manipulated to align him- or herself with one parent and to refuse contact with the other. Counsel need practical strategies for investigating and litigating emotion-laden allegations in light of the law, science, and how various courts define the problem and deal with it.

The concept of "parental alienation" is a controversial topic/label and the evidence in support of it is questionable. "Parental alienation" is frequently misused as a construct to counter allegations of all forms of child abuse. Experts, such as counselors or psychiatrists, may have an economic interest in both diagnosis and therapeutic intervention. Proponents of "parental alienation" often fail to recognize the multiple legitimate reasons children have for resisting/refusing contact with a parent. A genuine case of parental manipulation, however, can lead to a parent being deprived, without justification, of the fundamental right to a relationship with their child.

Listen as this experienced panel of parent and child attorneys guides family law attorneys from investigation through handling a parental alienation case in court.