Parental alienation is a parent’s use of psychological manipulation to turn a child or children against the other parent. This toxic behavior is damaging and may cause long term problems for the child as well as the parents. Courts take evidence of parental alienation seriously and may consider it in making or modifying child custody arrangements.
In New Hampshire, parental alienation is recognized as a serious issue that can impact child custody decisions. The state's family courts consider the best interests of the child as the paramount concern in custody matters, as outlined in RSA 461-A:6. If a court finds that one parent is engaging in behavior that constitutes parental alienation, such as manipulating a child to turn against the other parent, it may view this as detrimental to the child's emotional well-being and factor this into its custody determinations. Evidence of parental alienation could lead to a modification of existing custody arrangements to protect the child's interests. The court may order counseling or implement custody and visitation schedules that aim to repair and maintain the child's relationship with both parents. However, each case is unique, and the court's decision will be based on the specific circumstances presented.