Parental Alienation in Florida: What It Is and How Courts Handle It
What Is Parental Alienation?
Parental alienation is more than just one parent refusing visitation. It’s a calculated, psychological manipulation where one parent indoctrinates the child to fear or reject the other parent. This often involves repeatedly telling the child that the other parent is dangerous or abusive—even if that’s not true.
The Harm to Children
Children want to love both parents. But constant exposure to fear and distrust creates trauma. Kids quickly learn that if they align with the alienating parent’s narrative, they avoid conflict or punishment. This emotional conditioning damages the child’s relationship with the alienated parent and causes deep psychological harm.
How Courts Address Parental Alienation in Florida
Because courts don’t like “he said, she said” disputes, a guardian ad litem’s investigation is critical. Guardians are cautious to label behavior as parental alienation but when they do, it carries serious weight. The ultimate remedy can be removing the child from the alienating parent’s custody temporarily, sometimes for 6 to 12 months, to allow healing.
Long-Term Consequences
Alienating parents often lose meaningful relationships with their children once the kids mature and reexamine their childhoods. The damage can last a lifetime.
Sean Smallwood is an Orlando divorce attorney for the law firm Sean Smallwood, Orlando Divorce & Family Law P.A. where he represents clients in all areas of family law and divorce. 100% of the practice is devoted to family law. As an attorney in Orlando, he has helped many families with a wide variety of family law cases including Divorce, Child Custody, Child Support, and many other issues.
