Child custody is often the most important issue during divorce. Most parents in Alabama know that child custody should always center on the child’s best interests. However, there are times when parents make false accusations of abuse in order to secure their preferred custody agreement. Not only does this take the focus off the child’s best interests, but it also fuels parental alienation.
Why do parents make false accusations?
There are several reasons a parent might falsely accuse an ex-spouse of abusing their child. One of the main reasons is parental alienation to secure a certain outcome for child custody. This is not the only reason, though — according to psychologists — parents may also make false accusations because:
- They view their children as possessions to be controlled
- They see their children as extensions of themselves
- They are trying to punish their ex-spouse’s
Why is parental alienation harmful?
Maintaining loving relationships with both parents without interruption is essential to long-term adjustment in children. When a parent attempts to alienate a child from his or her other parent, it causes significant and long-reaching harm. Even when accusations are proved to be false, children often struggle to love and reconnect with their other parents.
Divorce is already complicated enough without adding in false accusations of child abuse and issues of parental alienation. Sadly, this is the reality that many parents in Alabama have had to face. While it can be emotionally draining, parents who dedicate themselves to learning as much as possible about their rights during divorce and in child custody matters may find that they can still secure the best possible child custody agreement for their children.
