Parental Alienation In Fort Lauderdale: How Courts Respond And What You Can Do

Divorce and separation are hard enough on children without one parent working, consciously or not, to turn them against the other. Parental alienation, when a child’s relationship with one parent is damaged through the words or actions of the other, is a pattern that Fort Lauderdale family courts see more often than people realize. If you’re wondering whether what you’re experiencing counts as alienation, and what can actually be done about it, you’re not alone in asking.

What Does Parental Alienation Look Like?

Sometimes it’s obvious, like a parent openly criticizing the other in front of the child. Other times it’s subtler, like scheduling activities that consistently conflict with the other parent’s time-sharing. Does the child suddenly refuse visits without a clear reason? Has one parent stopped sharing school or medical updates with the other? Patterns like these, especially when they build over months or years, are worth paying attention to.

Interestingly, Florida law doesn’t use the term “parental alienation” directly. Instead, courts evaluate these situations through the broader “best interest of the child” standard.

How Florida Courts Respond

Under Florida Statute 61.13, judges weigh a long list of factors when deciding parental responsibility and time-sharing, including each parent’s demonstrated willingness to encourage a close relationship between the child and the other parent. When a court sees evidence that one parent has consistently undermined that relationship, it can shape decisions about time-sharing, parental responsibility, and even which parent has final say on major decisions.

Courts don’t take these allegations at face value, though. Judges often look to communication records, witness accounts, or input from a guardian ad litem, a neutral party appointed to represent the child’s interests, before changing an existing parenting plan. Building that kind of record takes time. So what should a parent do in the meantime?

What You Can Do

Documentation tends to matter more than most parents expect. Keeping records of missed time-sharing, canceled visits, or messages suggesting one parent is discouraging contact can make a real difference later. Consistency matters just as much. Continuing to show up for scheduled time, staying involved in school and medical decisions, and resisting the urge to respond in kind can all strengthen a parent’s position over time.

Should you seek a modification right away, or wait until a clearer pattern has been documented? That often depends on how serious the situation is and how it’s affecting the child, which is exactly the kind of question worth talking through with someone familiar with how local courts handle these cases.

Parental alienation cases rarely look the same from one family to the next, and the right response depends heavily on the details of your situation. If you believe your relationship with your child is being undermined, we invite you to reach out to Sandra Bonfiglio, P.A. Our Fort Lauderdale family law attorneys have spent years working with Broward County families through custody and time-sharing disputes, and we’re ready to talk through what’s happening in yours. Give us a call to schedule a consultation.

Source:

leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/Sections/0061.13.html