The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) has recently highlighted the phenomenon of parental alienation which takes place when one parent deliberately turns a child or children against the other parent with a view to excluding them from their life. 

Parental alienation cases are regularly encountered by family solicitors and represent some of the most challenging cases practitioners deal with.  In the worst cases they can lead to permanent estrangement of one parent from the children.  Sadly, this is not uncommon. 

Cafcass intends to lead a new approach through a pilot scheme launched this year which will initially give parents the chance to change their behaviour with the help of intense therapy to assist the alienating parent in putting themselves in their child’s position and understanding that their behaviour is abusive. 

How effective this new approach will be remains to be seen, but having a spot light shone on this difficult and emotive issue is long overdue. 

George Green’s Specialist Family and Divorce Lawyers give advice regularly on children matters.  If you wish to discuss your matter in a free initial telephone consultation call Mark Vandaele on 01902 796930 (mvandaele@georgegreen.co.uk) at our Wolverhampton office or Jane Williams on 01384 340 528 (jwilliams@georgegreen.co.uk at our Cradley Heath office.