Child custody is often one of the most difficult and contentious issues in a Texas divorce, and the difficulties associated with it do not always disappear simply because the process is final. In fact, your child’s other parent can do certain things to make it difficult to abide by your custody plan and maintain a strong relationship with your children.
When a parent acts maliciously toward you after divorce, it often comes in the form of interfering with your rightful or court-ordered parenting time. You may be unsure of how to adequately handle what many call malicious parent syndrome and resolve any remaining conflicts, but you do not have to deal with this on your own.
Identifying malicious behavior
You may be unsure if what you are experiencing from your children’s other parent is intentionally malicious, but over time, you may notice a pattern of behavior that could indicate you have a serious problem. In many cases, it may be necessary to seek legal guidance in order to effectively resolve this problem. Some signs of malicious parent syndrome include the following:
- Actively working to punish you by interfering in your parenting time or poisoning your child’s thoughts against you
- Using the courts or others to keep you from having contact or access to your child
- Preventing you from attending extracurricular activities or being involved in your child’s school activities
- Lying to the children about you in a way that is demeaning and damaging
If you believe you are a victim of malicious parent syndrome, you have the right to fight back. You do not have to stand for this type of behavior, but you can seek legal remedies, such as enforcement of your orders and more.
Your right to be an active and loving parent
You have the right to maintain an active role in the life of your child. As a biological parent, you may move forward with the appropriate course of action to put a stop to the negative effects of malicious parent syndrome.
If you need help enforcing your custody order or protecting your parental rights, you do not have to fight alone. A complete evaluation of your case can help you understand how you can move forward, seeking a resolution that allows you to maintain a strong and healthy relationship with your children for years to come.