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Illinois Divorce: One Definition of Parental Alienation:

Michael Roe has for many years focused a significant part of his practice on Child Custody issues, including Parental Alienation cases. Few lawyers nationally have the background, experience, and dedication to this critical issue in Family Law.  As a long term member of PASG, our firm already looks forward to the PASG meeting this year, with details below.
One Definition of Parental Alienation:
Parental alienation refers to a situation in which one parent intentionally or unintentionally manipulates a child to reject, fear, or distance themselves from the other parent without legitimate justification. This behavior often involves actions such as badmouthing the other parent, limiting contact, making false allegations, or coaching the child to adopt negative views about the targeted parent. In Illinois, parental alienation is considered a form of emotional abuse because it harms the child’s psychological well-being and undermines the child’s relationship with both parents. Illinois courts prioritize the best interests of the child in custody and parenting time decisions, and evidence of parental alienation can significantly influence these outcomes.
Illinois Sample Cases Addressing Parental Alienation
  1. In re Marriage of D.T.W. (2011)
    • Citation: 2011 IL App (1st) 111225
    • Summary: This case involved a mother exhibiting alienating behaviors, such as making disparaging remarks about the father and interfering with his relationship with the children. The court found evidence of the mother’s actions undermined the children’s relationship with their father. The court awarded sole custody to the father and permitted him to relocate the children from Illinois to Florida, emphasizing that the mother’s alienating behavior was not in the children’s best interests. This case highlights how Illinois courts consider evidence of alienation when determining custody arrangements.

  2. In re Marriage of Moore (2018)
    • Citation: 2018 IL App (2d) 170826
    • Summary: In this case, the father engaged in alienating behavior by making the mother appear “evil or unsafe” to the child. A licensed clinical professional counselor testified that the child’s claims of abuse against the mother seemed scripted and not age-appropriate, suggesting severe parental alienation. The court relied on the guardian ad litem’s investigation and mental health professionals’ testimony to identify the father’s actions as alienating. The court ordered interventions, including temporarily limiting the father’s contact with the child until therapeutic measures could be implemented to restore the child’s relationship with the mother. This case underscores the role of court-appointed professionals in identifying and addressing parental alienation.

PASG Conference

What: 7th International Conference for Parental Alienation

When: September 10, 2025 – September 12, 2025

Where: Marriott Downtown at Eaton Centre in Toronto, ON, Canada

How: This conference will feature both in-person and virtual attendees.

Contact Information