header-logo header-logo

Parental alienation: who’s pulling the strings?

16 June 2023 / Luke Scarratt
Issue: 8029 / Categories: Features , Family , Child law , Divorce
printer mail-detail
126377
Parental alienation has the potential to cause serious harm to families & children: Luke Scarratt discusses the tools at the court’s disposal when it raises its head
  • How the courts are applying the law in relation to parental alienation.
  • What tools the courts have available in these instances.
  • The difficulties in proving parental alienation and the different, often subtle forms it takes.
  • What lawyers, clients and practitioners need to do if parental alienation is alleged.

Upon divorce or the breakdown of a family, the relationship between a child and their parents can often encounter difficulties.

Children may gravitate towards one or the other parent for any number of personal and practical reasons. Conversely, children may become hostile or resistant to their relationship with one parent, possibly seeking to blame them for the breakdown of the marriage or relationship, or motivated by perceived personality flaws. Sadly, there are almost limitless potential ways in which family conflict can cause a breakdown in a child’s relationship with one

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Kadie Bennett, Anthony Collins

NLJ Career Profile: Kadie Bennett, Anthony Collins

Kadie Bennett, senior associate at Anthony Collins and chair of the Resolution West Midlands Group, discusses her long-standing passion for family law and calls for unity in the profession

Osborne Clarke—Lara Burch

Osborne Clarke—Lara Burch

Firm appoints new UK senior partner for 2026

Keoghs—Louise Jackson & Katie Everson

Keoghs—Louise Jackson & Katie Everson

Healthcare and sports legal team expands in the north west

NEWS
Lawyers and users of the business and property courts are invited to share their views on disclosure, in particular the operation of PD 57AD and the use of Technology Assisted Review (TAR) and artificial intelligence (AI)
Social media giants should face tortious liability for the psychological harms their platforms inflict, argues Harry Lambert of Outer Temple Chambers in this week’s NLJ
The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024—once heralded as a breakthrough—has instead plunged leaseholders into confusion, warns Shabnam Ali-Khan of Russell-Cooke in this week’s NLJ
The Employment Appeal Tribunal has now confirmed that offering a disabled employee a trial period in an alternative role can itself be a 'reasonable adjustment' under the Equality Act 2010: in this week's NLJ, Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve analyses the evolving case law
Caroline Shea KC and Richard Miller of Falcon Chambers examine the growing judicial focus on 'cynical breach' in restrictive covenant cases, in this week's issue of NLJ
back-to-top-scroll