Custody disputes can be contentious. How to deal with false accusations.
FORENSIC PRACTICE
Nothing is more controversial and contentious than a custody battle during divorce proceedings. A sad example of this is when one parent makes a false allegation of abuse against the other parent in order to gain custody of their child. Such parents believe that an allegation of abuse will give them an advantage in a custody battle.
Making false allegations of abuse is often a strategy or tactic. It’s a cynical but powerful move. It is an attempt to alienate the child from the target parent by undermining or even ending their relationship. Certainly alienation of a child from a parent is considered a form of psychological abuse.
I’ve handled hundreds of custody cases. A significant number of these cases involved false allegations of abuse as a strategy or tactic. Professionals involved in child custody cases—attorneys, barristers, mediators, parenting coordinators, judges, and mental health experts—are often perplexed and confused by a false allegation of abuse. Instead of handling the situation effectively and efficiently, such professionals often make the situation worse by over- or under-reacting.
A false allegation of abuse in a child custody matter needs to be dealt with properly. Careful documentation of the falsehood of the allegation is critical. Additionally, including a mental health professional on the process team is essential. This expert must be knowledgeable, experienced and proactive in their approach to the case. A false allegation of abuse must be taken seriously. Otherwise, a lax approach may imply that the assertion is true or partially true.
False abuse allegations can be simple or complicated or even bizarre. If the parent is determined to wreak havoc, criminal charges could be filed against the target parent. Child protection agencies are almost always contacted by the offending parent.
False child abuse allegations are an all too common phenomenon. They need to be handled decisively and decisively by the target parent and their process team. A mental health professional can add a lot of wisdom, energy, and knowledge to navigating such a case.
To learn more about false allegations, read False Accusations of Abuse During Divorce: The Role of Alienating Beliefs.
dr Blotcky is a clinical and forensic psychologist in private practice in Birmingham, Alabama. His specialty is false allegations of abuse and parental alienation. He can be reached at alanblotcky@att.net.
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