Is Your Partner Alienating Your Child? | Child Custody Lawyer Melbourne

When a relationship breaks down, the custody of children often becomes a contentious issue. In cases involving allegations of parental alienation, the court must weigh the best interests of the child carefully. One such case is Willmore & Menendez, where the court had to determine whether a mother’s actions posed an “unacceptable risk of psychological and emotional harm” to her six-year-old child. The outcome resulted in a reversal of previous custody arrangements, transferring sole custody to the father and limiting the mother’s contact to supervised visits for a period of two years.

This blog explores the key factors that led to this decision and what parents should consider when facing similar custody challenges. If you are navigating a custody dispute, seeking guidance from a skilled child custody lawyer is essential.

The Case | Child Custody Lawyer Melbourne

A mother who was found to pose an “unacceptable risk of psychological and emotional harm” to her six-year-old child has appealed the decision before the Full Court. The case of Willmore & Menendez involved allegations by the Father of the Mother engaging in parental alienation.

Justice Carew ordered that the father be granted sole custody of the child, whilst the mother is to only have supervised visits for a period of two years.  This case involved allegations of a mother alienating a child from her father.

So, what led to this decision and a total reversal of the previous orders?

Previously the child had lived with the mother full time, with the exception of 3 nights a week where he went to live with his father. This arrangement was not particularly consistent however because the mother had suspended the father’s rights to see the child in 2019 and again in 2020. These suspensions were triggered by interim orders made based on allegations by the mother that the father posed a threat of sexual harm to the child. In response, the father alleged that the mother had intentionally made false allegations of abuse and manipulated the legal process to ensure he was denied access to his child. The father told the court, that because of these actions, the mother posed “an unacceptable risk of psychological abuse/and or emotional harm to the child”.

Ultimately, the court sided with the father, asserting that because of the mother’s actions, and her deeply negative views of the father, she was likely to cause harm to the child. To protect the child from psychological and emotional harm the judge determined the child was better off in the custody of the father.

Contact a family lawyer today 

If you need the assistance of a Melbourne child custody lawyer, please contact Rowan Skinner and Associates Lawyers at our office (03) 9995 9155 for a no obligation discussion about your case. We service clients in Melbourne, Melbourne Northern Suburbs, such as Northcote, Alphington, Carlton, Fitzroy, North Fitzroy, Kew and Heidelberg, as well as South Melbourne and South Yarra.

For more information about the common rules around child custody after Divorce in Victoria, make sure to check our latest blog here.

About Rowan Skinner

Rowan Skinner is a highly skilled family lawyer with over 35 years of experience across various legal roles and jurisdictions. Rowan specialises in resolving family law disputes such as divorce, financial settlements, child custody and domestic violence cases. Through his diverse and extensive experience, Rowan has a deep understanding of the complexities and nuances involved in family law. Rowan is a skilled negotiator and litigator who follows a compassionate and client-focused approach which prioritises helping you navigate what can be an emotional and challenging time.