blog home custody parental alienation – bribery

Posted by Thomas Huguenor on Nov 20, 2019 in Custody

It is devastating when your relationship with your child is damaged by the other parent or when there is “parental alienation” between you and your children. If a parent keeps making derogatory remarks about you to your child, it can destroy one of life’s most precious relationships. The courts do not look kindly on parents who are actively working to turn one child against the other parent.

Some parents take parental alienation even further and manipulate a child with bribery. Parents who take part in this activity use gifts to become “favorites”. Expensive toys, trips, clothing, electronic devices, and other items that children love can be used to try to influence the child, especially in cases where custody, relocation, or visits have not yet been resolved.

How can you prove parental alienation?

When the parents separate, it is common knowledge that the process can have negative emotional effects on the children. If one parent within earshot or directly for the children is constantly doing less of the other, it cannot help but affect the child’s point of view in some way. When gifts are used to influence a child towards one parent – rather than the other – an investigation should be made into how many and what types of gifts are given to the child and how often they are given.

If the alienation is related to derogatory remarks, proof of parental alienation may require your child to be interviewed by a professional. If you believe your child is a victim of these acts, seek legal assistance immediately. If a parent is found to be engaging in abusive, harmful behavior that is known to damage a child’s emotional health, the court may amend an existing agreement in favor of the victim’s parent.

What evidence could prove parental alienation?

Different types of evidence can be used to prove that a parent is engaged in severe parental alienation, including:

• E-mail messages
• Texts
• Affidavits
• Professional reports on child interviews

Examples of bribery alienation from parents

Bribery of children can take many forms. For a younger child, a parent who buys a lot of toys or takes a young child out shopping and tells them they can “buy any toy they want” might try to manipulate the child. For a young girl, the parent may go on a shopping spree where they buy hundreds or even thousands of dollars’ worth of clothes or the latest cell phone. For boys, video games, expensive, trendy sneakers, and electronics are the most attractive purchases.

When these purchases are made to sway a child in favor of the parent, it can be a difficult situation to resolve. A new kitten, puppy, or other pet could make a child want to spend more time with a parent. Parental alienation through bribery is often most evident on birthdays and during holiday gift giving, but can occur at any time.

Is Parental Alienation Illegal in California?

Parental alienation, whether through words or bribery, is considered abusive behavior. The courts in California recognize that some parents are involved in this harmful activity. If it can be demonstrated that the measures are consistent, ongoing, serious and have damaged a parental relationship, the court may amend the existing custody ordinance in favor of the victim’s parent.

Contact us.

If you believe that your child is being turned against you by the other parent, legal action should be taken before your relationship with your child is further harmed. Contact us at Huguenor Mattis, APC at (858) 458-9500. As a premier family law firm in San Diego, we take challenging cases, including parental alienation and custody cases, with confidence.