Journal of Child and Adolescent Behavior
Open Access

Abstract

In today�s divorce environment of extreme litigation, parental alienation, false allegations, of child abuse, police reports and restraining orders, filed to gain an advantage in custody an alternative to co-parenting is a must to protect the parent child relationship and shared custody. Considering a growing number of judicial decisions across the country due to the inability of parents to co-parent the courts are severing or severely limiting contact between many parents and their children. A decision detrimental to everyone involved especially children who suffer ~ lacking regular and frequent contact with both parents, however different, their parenting styles may be. This is also in direct opposition to what the courts desire but is the result nonetheless. It is also a decision that ultimately results in many cases to the loss of all contact between a parent and a child as the primary parent now seeks further destruction of the non-primary parent and child relationship with full immunity lacking recognition of courts of an already existing alternative to the scenario such as parallel parenting. Aggravating the scenario is that the courts usually decide in favor of the more aggressive and alienating parent who is usually more financially capable and who is by the very definition more presentable to the courts. As opposed to the target parent who is often under severe duress and suffering from PTSD and seen as less capable in and out of court and during assessments. An issue could be reduced or obstructed with early awareness and use of parallel parenting by parents, the courts and other experts. Parallel parenting can be implemented without an order of the courts. But certainly, it is a bonus if court order at the onset of the divorce, custody and shared parenting process as opposed to the current failed model of co-parenting.

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