Kent, WA asked in Child Custody and Family Law for Idaho

Q: My ex has cut off all contact between my son and I. Is that legal?

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1 Lawyer Answer
Kevin M Rogers
Kevin M Rogers
Answered
  • Divorce Lawyer
  • Boise, ID
  • Licensed in Idaho

A: Of course it is "legal," but shouldn't be. There SHOULD be a law prohibiting both parents from slandering or saying anything about the other parent to the children. This is called "alienation of affection," and it does more harm to children than any other kind of abuse besides sexual abuse. It genuinely f's with kids' minds to have one parent telling them that mom or dad doesn't really love them or doesn't see them because they don't love them etc. Worse, one parent can begin telling the child that the other parent "touched them" and make the child afraid of the other parent. Any parent who would lie about the child being touched and tell the child this, should lose their parental rights forever. If you have a DECREE, you should read it to see if there is any language in it which guarantees both parents the right to contact by phone or otherwise, their children. If there is NO such language in the Decree then I would ask the parent cutting off contact why they're doing this and warn them that this conduct must stop and if it does not that you are going to contact an attorney and move to modify custody.

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