Parental alienation in Australian family law

A recent study was completed in England and reported in the Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law (JSWFL). It was conducted by Dr Adrienne Barnett and found that in particular, estranged Fathers with a proven history of family violence could use parental alienation allegations made by Mothers to discredit those Mothers and gain additional parenting time with a child.

The suggestion in this report is made that abusive Fathers alleged that the residential Mother is alienating the child against them in order to improve their access.

Marilyn Stowe, an English family lawyer, observed that some child arrangements do appear to boil down to allegations of abuse from one parent versus allegations of parental alienation by the other.[1]

If you are concerned or confronted by issues of parental alienation in a parenting dispute with your previous partner, please do not hesitate to contact Rowan Skinner & Associates Lawyers to discuss your concerns. We specialise in child custody issues and other family law matters.

For more information regarding the rules about child custody and access make sure to check our latest article.

[1]https://www.stowefamilylaw.co.uk/blog/2020/01/29/study-finds-abusers-use-parental-alienation-to-gain-contact-with-children/

Rowan Skinner

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.