A divorce could turn into a bitter event for troubled spouses. Adults might have difficulty handling the psychological stress of a traumatic divorce. Things may be far worse for children struggling to process the situation. Regrettably, parents struggling with their emotions might try to gain an advantage by employing underhanded tactics to achieve a preferred child custody outcome. A Tennessee family court judge could look very unfavorably on parents using alienation and distraction tactics for leverage.
Harming the children
Abusive parents and spouses may rely on alienation distraction tactics to gain an edge in a child custody hearing. When one parent/spouse is an abuser, that person may try to deflect from their behavior and attempt to cast the other parent in the worst light possible.
An abusive spouse could make false claims about the other spouse’s fitness or mental state. The abuser could claim a caring spouse abandoned the children. The burden may fall on the victim to counter such false claims.
Addressing the truth in family court
While an abuser could make false claims about another spouse, the victim may have credible evidence that presents the truth. The court would not likely want to place the child in harm’s way, so decisions about child custody and visitation may center on the young one’s best interests. Keeping a child away from abuse would be in their best interests.
A child custody hearing allows both parties to provide evidence. Voicemails and text messages may reveal if one party is unstable or abusive. Financial statements might show when a parent takes action to support a child. A lack of evidence about support could indicate who is the neglectful parent.
