When Parents Go Bad: Hostile Custody Actions

Nowhere is the ugliness of divorce more evident than in protracted custody litigation involving claims of parental alienation. Courts and court professionals can become polarized, leaving the targeted parent with mounting legal troubles and children adrift and involved in legal battles of which they should have no knowledge.

Our firm has extensive experience with parents who use the instability wrought by divorce to alter the relationship of children with the other parent. While the term parental alienation syndrome (PAS) is frequently used in discussing the hostile actions of a parent, PAS is not an accepted syndrome, but is instead the name of a theory proposed by Richard A. Gardner.

Accusations can be deceiving. Although it is easy to accuse a parent of PAS, the allegation can also be made by a disordered or distraught spouse seeking to inflict as much damage as possible on the other spouse. If you are involved in a custody case in which you believe the other parent is targeting you or your children, vigorous, experienced legal counsel helps in the following ways:

• Provides strong, informed legal information about your rights and options
• Creates a protective barrier between you and a spouse using the legal system to target you
• Offers experienced advice on such options as an attorney for your child, guardian ad litem and the necessity of custodial evaluations with psychological testing to provide fact-based information to the court — instead of accusations

It is easy for parties to make unfounded claims during a custody proceeding. In family court, an accusation immediately colors the opinion of the court and its officers, leaving a targeted parent with the task of proving himself or herself innocent over the course of a lengthy, expensive custodial war.

Our firm protects you from distortion campaigns and upholds the inherent rights and best interests of your child. When you need help with a custody matter, contact Bryan L. Salamone & Associates, P.C.