Parental alienation is a problem that can have a profound impact on the relationships between children and their parents. It is a situation in which one parent deliberately tries to damage the child’s relationship with the other parent. The alienating parent may make false allegations of abuse, interfere with visitation rights, or try to turn the child against the other parent. Parental alienation can have long-lasting effects on the child’s emotional and psychological well-being, as well as the alienated parent’s relationship with the child. It is a serious issue that requires prompt and effective intervention to minimize its harmful effects. In Pustilnik v. Pustilnik, the court reviewed the standard for proving parental alienation.
Factual Background
In Pustilnik v. Pustilnik, the parties were involved in a contentious divorce and custody battle. The mother was seeking sole custody of the children, and the father was seeking joint custody. The court appointed a forensic evaluator to investigate the situation and make a recommendation regarding custody. The forensic evaluator found that the mother had engaged in a campaign of parental alienation against the father. The evaluator found that the mother had made false allegations of abuse against the father, interfered with the father’s visitation rights, and tried to turn the children against the father.