Parental Alienation Attorney in Tarrant and Denton Counties

Protecting Your Relationship with Your Child

Divorce or separation can create intense emotional stress for families—especially when one parent intentionally damages the child’s relationship with the other. This harmful behavior, known as parental alienation, can have lasting psychological consequences for both parent and child. At Setzer Law Firm PLLC, we advocate for parents experiencing alienation and fight to preserve the bond between parent and child.

We proudly represent families throughout Colleyville, Southlake, Keller, Grapevine, Roanoke, and surrounding communities.

What Is Parental Alienation?

Parental alienation occurs when one parent manipulates a child into rejecting or fearing the other parent, often through:

  • Negative comments or false accusations
  • Withholding communication or visitation
  • Encouraging the child to disrespect the other parent
  • Interfering with court-ordered parenting time
  • Creating unnecessary loyalty conflicts

This behavior is not only emotionally damaging—it can also be considered a violation of custody orders and a form of psychological abuse.

Learn more about your rights as a parent on our Parental Rights page.

Signs of Parental Alienation

If you’re concerned about parental alienation, watch for these signs:

  • Sudden withdrawal or hostility from your child
  • Refusal to visit or communicate with you
  • Use of adult language or accusations inconsistent with the child’s understanding
  • Your child appearing fearful or overly protective of the other parent
  • The other parent refusing to facilitate communication or co-parenting

At Setzer Law Firm, we take these concerns seriously and move quickly to investigate and take legal action where appropriate.

Legal Remedies for Parental Alienation

Courts in Texas prioritize the best interests of the child, which includes maintaining healthy relationships with both parents. If alienation is proven, the court may:

  • Modify the custody or possession order
  • Increase parenting time for the targeted parent
  • Require counseling or reunification therapy
  • Sanction the alienating parent for violating court orders
  • Order supervised visitation or limit one parent’s access

We help you build a compelling case using documentation, expert evaluations, and testimony to protect your rights and your child’s well-being.

Why Choose Setzer Law Firm?

Clients trust our firm because we provide:

  • Over 30 years of family law experience
  • Compassionate yet assertive advocacy
  • Experience working with child psychologists and counselors
  • Clear, evidence-based strategies to address alienation
  • Personal attention to every family we represent

FAQ About Parental Alienation

While expert testimony is not always required, having a psychologist or counselor document the alienating behavior can strengthen your case. Courts consider both evidence and behavior patterns when making decisions about custody or visitation.

If your child is refusing visitation due to the other parent’s influence, you can file a motion to enforce the custody order. The court may investigate the situation, issue penalties to the violating parent, or modify the custody arrangement.

While not formally classified as abuse in all cases, severe parental alienation may be viewed by the court as emotional abuse—especially if it harms the child’s psychological development. Courts can and do take corrective action when such behavior is proven.

If you’re being falsely accused, we can help you present evidence to defend your parenting practices. The court will look for consistent patterns of behavior, not isolated disagreements. It’s important to act quickly to protect your rights and your reputation.