Teaneck Child Alienation Lawyer
Family court cases involving children can be emotional and overwhelming, and litigating these cases requires careful attention to the dynamics of the family, the rule of law, and the children’s interests. Child alienation cases are those where the words and actions of a parent harm the child’s relationship with the other parent, and the sensitive nature of these cases often require the assistance of a qualified legal professional.
A Teaneck child alienation lawyer can advocate on your behalf before the court of the New Jersey Family Division, and provide the necessary specific details to support your claim.
Proving Child Alienation in New Jersey
To understand child alienation laws in New Jersey, litigants should develop an understanding of the judges who will hear their cases. A judge’s first priority in these cases is the best interests of the child, which refers to the child’s physical, mental, emotional, and psychic well-being, and typically benefits most from having active participation from both parents in the child’s life.
Proving child alienation requires a showing that a parent is causing harm to the child. The damage can be physical, mental, emotional, or otherwise, including:
- Behavior that is harming to the child;
- Physical or verbal abuse;
- Unnecessary public reprimand;
- Insufficient rule-setting;
- Excessive punishments;
- Purposely withholding affection;
- Drug or alcohol use.
While the behavior is usually easy to identify as intentional, reckless, or extreme conduct, it can also be subtle. Some courts have described the subtle behavior as “conduct designed to poison” a familial bond, from reinforcing negative images of the other parent to the child, spreading lies about a spouse, or preventing the child from spending time with a parent. In these subtler cases, the children usually do not know that they are being alienated and will be unable to provide concrete reasons for not wanting to spend time with a parent.
There is a wide range of conduct that the court will address in these cases, and a skilled Teaneck attorney will ensure that a person’s child alientation claim is tailored to their unique familial situation.
New Jersey Laws Addressing Child Alienation
New Jersey law considers both parents equal and will formulate custody orders to maximize both parents’ involvement in the child’s life. Under New Jersey Revised Statutes §9:2-4, minor children are given special consideration, as their contact with each parent plays a key component in the upbringing of the child.
Family Division judges should be made aware of any behavior that may be deemed child or parental alienation. Both parents should have a role in the child’s life, and alienation substantially disrupts one parent’s function, ultimately to the child’s detriment. A Teaneck attorney is familiar with both the rules of the state and how New Jersey family court judges generally respond in situations of child alientation.
Call a Teaneck Child Alienation Attorney for an Evaluation of Your Case
If you feel that your child is being turned against you, contact a Teaneck child alienation lawyer to learn more about your legal rights. Alienation can be devastating, but you do not have to go through the legal proceedings alone. An experienced attorney can assist parents in the toughest of situations. Contacting a family services attorney might be the first step to repairing your family’s relationships. Call today to schedule a consultation.
