When you have children, you have certain rights under Florida law. If you and the other parent end your relationship, you still get to see your children regularly.
Unfortunately, sometimes people use their children as a way to express their bitterness to their former partner. Some people will intentionally try to damage the relationship between their ex and their children.
They may go so far as to claim that their ex abused them or the children and coach the children into repeating the same story. Those lies could eventually affect your rights when you ask for shared custody.
Can you show that your ex wants to keep you away from the kids?
Allegations of abuse are a way for one parent to convince the court that sharing custody would not be in the best interests of their children. However, such allegations require substantiation for the courts to take them seriously.
One parent may tell the children the same story repeatedly to corroborate their false story of abuse. They may even involve professionals, like counselors, to make the situation seem credible. To fight back, you need to show that your ex just wants to alienate you from the kids.
Airing grievances with the kids or denying you parenting time despite a custody order are both potential examples of parental alienation. If you can show, from their behavior or even the messages they’ve sent you, that your ex wants to hurt your relationship with the kids, not protect them, then that can help you as you push for shared custody in your divorce.
Keeping the focus on what is best for the children can help you fight back against unethical and manipulative domestic violence allegations as you litigate custody with your ex.
