Parental alienation occurs when one parent encourages or manipulates a child to reject or distance themselves from the other parent, often through false or exaggerated information. This typically happens during or after a divorce or custody battle but can also occur in intact families. This has been a highly contested issue for many years in South Carolina Family Courts.
In South Carolina, there are generally five elements that need to be considered for a legitimate finding of Parental Alienation:
- The child actively avoids, resists, or refuses a relationship with the parent;
- The presence of a prior positive relationship between the child and the now rejected parent;
- The absence of abuse or neglect or seriously deficient parenting on the part of the now rejected parent;
- The use of multiple alienating behaviors by the favored parent; and
- The manifestation of behavioral signs of alienation by the child.
Key Aspects of Parental Alienation:
- Manipulation: The alienating parent may make negative comments about the other parent, blame them for the separation, or make false accusations of abuse.
- Impact on the Child: The child may feel confused, sad, or guilty, and their relationship with the alienated parent can suffer significantly.
- Legal Considerations: Courts may intervene if there is evidence of parental alienation, sometimes mandating reunification programs or counseling to help rebuild the parent-child relationship.
Parental alienation operates on a sliding scale (mild, moderate, and severe), and can be deeply harmful, affecting the child’s emotional well-being and their relationship with both parents. If you suspect parental alienation, please schedule an appointment with our team to address the seriousness of this matter.
This is not legal advice.