It’s incredibly painful to feel your child pulling away from you—especially when you believe the other parent is to blame. Parental alienation happens when one parent influences a child to reject the other parent unfairly. It can damage your relationship with your child and have long-term effects on their emotional health.
Colorado courts take these situations seriously, but how you respond matters. Whether you’re facing alienation or accused of it, here are five practical tips to help you protect your rights and support your child.
1. Document Everything
When dealing with potential parental alienation, detailed documentation is your best ally. Colorado courts rely heavily on evidence to determine whether one parent is actively undermining the child’s relationship with the other.
- Keep a written journal of missed visitations, unusual behavior from your child, and any hostile or manipulative messages.
- Save all written communications—text messages, emails, voicemails, and social media messages.
- Note concerning statements from your child that may show undue influence, such as “Dad says you don’t want to see me anymore.”
Whenever possible, communicate with your co-parent in writing and keep the tone respectful and factual. Tools like OurFamilyWizard or TalkingParents are especially helpful in cases involving high-conflict co-parenting or allegations of alienation. These platforms create a secure, court-admissible record of communications.
2. Stay Consistent and Positive with Your Child
Children caught in the middle of parental alienation may act distant, confused, or even hostile. Your job is to remain calm, consistent, and loving.
Continue to show up for your parenting time, even if your child seems reluctant. Avoid reacting emotionally or negatively—especially in front of the child. Speak respectfully about the other parent, even if they are not doing the same.
Judges in Colorado pay close attention to which parent is acting in the child’s best interest. If you maintain your composure and avoid escalating conflict, you reinforce that you are the stable and child-centered parent—something the court takes seriously when evaluating custody and decision-making authority.
3. Involve Professional Support
Parental alienation can take a toll on a child’s mental and emotional health. If you suspect that your child is being manipulated or emotionally harmed, don’t wait to involve professionals.
- Therapists or counselors trained in high-conflict divorce can provide a neutral, safe environment for your child and may serve as credible witnesses in court.
- Ask your attorney about requesting a Child and Family Investigator (CFI) or Parental Responsibilities Evaluator (PRE). These professionals investigate the family dynamics and provide the court with detailed recommendations on custody.
- In severe cases, a guardian ad litem (GAL) may be appointed to represent your child’s best interests. GALs are attorneys who independently assess whether alienation is present and what actions are in the child’s best interest.
Early intervention can help the court understand the full picture—and possibly stop parental alienation before it causes lasting damage.
4. Utilize Court Remedies in Colorado
If the other parent is interfering with your court-ordered time, you may be able to file a motion to enforce parenting time, also known as a motion to compel or motion for contempt. This can lead to:
- Make-up parenting time
- Court sanctions against the violating parent
- Clarification or changes to the existing parenting plan
In more serious cases, especially when alienation is harming the child’s emotional well-being, you might consider filing a motion to modify custody or decision-making responsibilities. To succeed, you’ll need to show a substantial and continuing change in circumstances—and that the change is in the child’s best interest.
5. Keep the Big Picture in Mind
Parental alienation is deeply emotional—but how you respond matters. Colorado judges favor parents who prioritize the child’s needs over personal conflict.
If you’re the victim of parental alienation, stay focused on preserving your bond with your child. Continue reaching out through appropriate channels, even if your efforts are rebuffed, and document your attempts. If you’re accused of alienation, take a hard look at your actions. Have you:
- Spoken negatively about your co-parent in front of your child?
- Blocked communication between the child and the other parent?
- Overstepped boundaries regarding parenting time?
If so, take immediate steps to correct course. Judges often give parents the opportunity to change behavior through parenting classes, counseling, or co-parenting therapy. Showing a sincere effort to support the child’s relationship with both parents—when it is safe and appropriate—can significantly influence the outcome of your case.
Get Help From Experienced Colorado Child Custody Attorneys
Parental alienation is not something you have to face alone. Whether you’re trying to prove that the other parent is alienating your child or defend against false accusations, you need a legal team that understands the nuances of high-conflict custody cases in Colorado.
At Colorado Legal Group, our team of child custody attorneys in Denver, Colorado Springs, and Grand Junction have extensive experience handling parental alienation cases. We know how to present your side clearly, protect your rights as a parent, and advocate for your child’s best interests. From working with court-appointed professionals to crafting strong legal strategies, we are here to help you move forward.
If you believe parental alienation is occurring—or if you’ve been accused—don’t wait. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward protecting your relationship with your child.