Parental Alienation and Child Custody in Lafayette, LA

When one parent systematically turns a child against the other, the damage runs deep. In Lafayette family courts, judges take parental alienation seriously, and it can become a deciding factor in how custody is arranged or modified. If you believe alienating behavior is affecting your relationship with your child, understanding how Louisiana law treats this issue is the first step toward doing something about it.

What Is Parental Alienation?

Parental alienation generally refers to a pattern of conduct in which one parent attempts to damage or undermine a child’s relationship with the other parent without legitimate justification.

Parental alienation is not a single incident. It is a pattern of behavior. A parent who constantly criticizes the other in front of the child, interferes with phone calls or visits, or coaches the child to make false accusations is engaging in alienating conduct.

Common behaviors courts look for include:

Badmouthing the other parent in the child’s presence
Blocking or discouraging visitation and communication
Telling the child the other parent does not love them
Using the child to gather information or deliver messages
Creating false narratives that reframe the other parent as dangerous or neglectful

These behaviors harm children. Research consistently shows that children forced into loyalty conflicts between parents suffer emotionally, socially, and academically.

How Louisiana Law Addresses Parental Alienation

Louisiana courts evaluate parental alienation under the “best interest of the child” standard found in Louisiana Civil Code Article 134.

Louisiana Civil Code Article 131 provides that custody is determined according to the best interest of the child, while Article 134 identifies factors courts may consider when evaluating what arrangement serves those interests. Factors particularly relevant to allegations of parental alienation include each parent’s willingness and ability to facilitate a close and continuing relationship between the child and the other parent, as well as the stability of the child’s environment.

A parent who deliberately disrupts the child’s bond with the other parent is working against the child’s best interest, not in favor of it. Louisiana courts may view intentional interference with the parent-child relationship as a factor weighing against the offending parent when determining what custody arrangement serves the child’s best interests.

Courts in the 15th Judicial District, which serves Lafayette Parish, have the authority to modify custody arrangements when one parent’s conduct is shown to be harmful. If the court finds that one parent’s conduct is harming the child’s relationship with the other parent and that modifying custody would serve the child’s best interests, it may adjust custody or visitation arrangements. Depending on the circumstances, this could include reducing parenting time, ordering supervised visitation, or, in appropriate cases, changing the primary custodial arrangement.

Recognizing Parental Alienation in Your Case

Signs of parental alienation include sudden hostility from your child, canceled visits, and a child repeating adult language they would not naturally use.

Alienation can be subtle early on. A child who suddenly refuses visits without any clear reason, who uses language that sounds scripted, or who seems frightened of a parent they previously had a warm relationship with may be showing signs of influence.

Document everything. Keep a log of missed visits, screenshot communications, save voicemails, and note specific things your child says that seem out of character. Courts rely on evidence. A pattern of documented interference is far more persuasive than a single complaint.

You may also request that the court appoint a mental health professional or custody evaluator to assess the family dynamics. In appropriate cases, Louisiana courts may appoint a qualified mental health evaluator, custody evaluator, or, when authorized, an attorney or other representative to help the court assess the child’s best interests.

What You Can Do If You Are Being Alienated

If parental alienation is affecting your custody case, you can file a motion to modify custody or enforce your existing custody order in Louisiana family court.

If you have an existing custody order and the other parent is violating it, you can file a rule for contempt with the court. Louisiana courts treat intentional violations of custody orders seriously. A parent who repeatedly blocks court-ordered visitation can face sanctions, fines, or a change in custody.

To seek a modification, you generally need to show that a material change in circumstances has occurred since the last order was entered. Depending on the circumstances, documented alienating behavior, a child’s worsening emotional well-being, or repeated interference with court-ordered visitation may support a finding that a material change in circumstances has occurred.

Acting quickly matters. The longer alienating behavior continues unchallenged, the more entrenched it becomes. Children who have been subjected to prolonged alienation are harder to reach, and courts often consider the child’s need for stability when making custody decisions, making it important to address ongoing interference before it becomes deeply entrenched.

The Role of Evidence in Parental Alienation Claims

Strong evidence in a parental alienation case includes communication records, testimony from teachers or counselors, and documentation of denied visitation.

Courts do not take custody modification lightly, and simply alleging alienation is not enough. You need a record. Text messages and emails showing interference, testimony from school personnel or therapists who have observed changes in the child, and a detailed log of denied or disrupted visits all support your claim.

If your child has expressed fear or hostility toward you that you believe is manufactured, a qualified mental health professional’s evaluation may provide important evidence for the court to consider. The court’s goal is always to reach a result that genuinely serves the child, and credible professional testimony helps a judge understand what is actually happening in the home.

Protecting Your Relationship With Your Child

Parental alienation is one of the most painful situations a parent can face. Watching your child pull away because of another adult’s influence is devastating, but Louisiana law gives you tools to fight back. Courts in Lafayette are not powerless here, and neither are you.

At the Law Office of Tony Morrow, we represent parents in Lafayette and across Acadiana who are dealing with exactly this situation. We understand what is at stake, and we pursue custody remedies aggressively on behalf of our clients. If you believe alienation is affecting your relationship with your child, contact us today or call us at 337-201-9222 to discuss your options.