Why Time is NOT Your Friend in Cases of Contact Denial.
- PAPA
- 5 days ago
- 6 min read
The pain of being alienated and being denied contact from one’s children is immense.
Families often find themselves struggling to reconnect after communication has broken down.
Maintaining meaningful relationships with children is a fundamental right for parents and children alike.
Yet the path to re-establishing contact can be challenging.
This article explores why swift action is essential for overcoming alienation and regaining vital contact with your children.
If you are a parent currently going through family court, it is highly recommended that you join PAPA Plus and make use of our courses and other resources, including PAPA AI.
If you require direct assistance with your case, you can also book a call with PAPA
The Complexity of Alienation and Contact Denial
Parental alienation happens when one parent disrupts the relationship between the child and the other parent.
This can be intentional, like with contact denial, or unintentional but no matter what it leads to emotional harm and strained interactions.
While some parents choose to take a passive approach, the emotional damage caused by alienation is often enduring and complex.
For instance, studies indicate that children who face alienation for over six months are at a much higher risk of developing mental health issues.
The longer a parent waits to act, the stronger the child's negative perspectives may become, making reconnection increasingly difficult.
Navigating the family law system poses additional challenges, underscoring the need for parents to understand their rights and responsibilities and to act as quickly as possible
Why Time is Not Your Friend
Emotional Impact on Children
Children affected by alienation frequently experience emotional distress.
Signs can include anxiety, anger, or feelings of depression.
According to research, children who endure prolonged alienation show a 40% higher chance of struggling with anxiety later in life.
As time passes without contact, children are more likely to internalise negative perceptions of the alienated parent.
This situation can solidify beliefs that could take years to change.
The urgency of re-establishing contact cannot be understated; timely action supports a child's emotional health and paves the way for healthier relationships.
The Legal Landscape
The family court system focuses on prioritising the child’s best interests.
This includes stressing the importance of maintaining parent-child ties.
However, delaying legal action could affect family court outcomes.
Initiating proceedings early is crucial.
The family court operates on a timeline, and if you delay, you may unintentionally convey that the issue is not pressing.
For example, parents who filed for legal action within three months of alienation reported 75% success in establishing contact compared to only 30% for those who delayed.
By acting quickly to file a court order, you reinforce your commitment to the parent-child relationship, signalling to both the court and your child that reconnecting is a priority.
If you're reading this and you delayed, don't dwell on that but don't wait until tomorrow, act today.
Evidence of Unwillingness
Taking your time can also be misinterpreted.
If you wait too long, it may look like you are resigning to the current situation.
This perception can weaken your position in future legal actions.
Evidence of a child's unwillingness to engage can become a permanent aspect of your case.
However, showing proactive efforts to reconnect—whether through documented communication, attending counselling, or seeking mediation—strengthens your case for resuming contact.
The Importance of Immediate Action
Steps to Take Right Away
Document Everything: Keep a detailed log of all communications, emotional impacts on your child, and instances of alienation. This information will be crucial in any legal context.
Consult with PAPA: Quickly seeking assistance from PAPA and completing our courses can clarify the actions you need to take and any specific provisions that may be relevant to your situation.
Consider Mediation: Before heading to court, mediation services can help bridge the gap between you and the other parent, often leading to amicable agreements.
File for Legal Action: If previous measures do not result in improved contact, take legal action without delay. This shows your seriousness about re-establishing the relationship.
Acting swiftly makes a significant difference in overcoming the challenges of alienation.
Benefits of Early Intervention
Building Trust and Stability
Children seek stability, especially in turbulent times.
Your prompt actions can foster a sense of security for them.
The sooner you address alienation, the less likely your child will get used to the absence of a relationship.
Creating stability is crucial for children, helping them to understand that relationships can be rebuilt when given the right attention and effort.
Legal Advantages
Timely action in legal matters can provide a substantial advantage in the family court system.
Courts recognise parents who demonstrate commitment, which positively influences decision-making.
Early intervention gives the court a clear view of your dedication to re-establishing the parent-child relationship, making it more likely for you to achieve a favourable outcome.
Creating a Support Network
Quick action offers the chance to create a network of support.
This can include family, friends, or professional counsellors, all playing a role in easing the journey for you and your children.
This support system reinforces your commitment while showing your child that adults can work together for their well-being.
It is also recommended to join the large PAPA support networks across social media, as well as here on the website.
Taking Action Today for a Better Tomorrow
Promptly addressing alienation to regain contact with children is vital.
The emotional and legal ramifications of delaying can complicate efforts to reconnect.
Recognising that time is of the essence helps you navigate the landscape of family law and strive for a healthier relationship with your children.
Don’t wait—begin taking steps today for a brighter future!
If you have waited however, don't panic, we at PAPA can help give you the best possible chance of reconnecting with your children.
In need of help or support?
If you are an alienated parent reading this article and feel you are in need of help and support then please make sure to join PAPA today by signing up here on our website.
This will give you access to our community support forum as well as our Resource Centre, which includes downloadable guides and on-demand courses to help through the process of being alienated and regaining contact with your children.
We also have our Facebook support group that you can join here.
Our Facebook support group has several dedicated chat rooms where you can get immediate support.
If you are a member of PAPA you can also send us a message here on the website and we will try to get back to you as soon as possible but please bear in mind, we have hundreds of messages weekly so it may take us a while to get back to you.
We are currently prioritising PAPA Plus members due to high demand.
Regardless of circumstance you are not alone and at PAPA we are here to support you.
Become a PAPA Ambassador
If you like our resources, articles and support networks and agree with what we stand for then why not get involved and help us push PAPA further by joining our Ambassador Program?
We would love for you to join us and help spread awareness for parental alienation and all of the dynamics involved so that we can continue to help parents and children towards a better future.
Our Ambassador Program allows you to grow your involvement with the cause by earning points on your membership.
To earn points we have created rewards for actions such as completing one of our courses, booking a case review, or ordering supply.
We will be adding new rewards and actions to our Ambassador Program as we continue to grow our awareness efforts.
We want our members to feel rewarded for their support as we continue to look for new ways to improve the lives of those impacted by parental alienation.
You can also become a PAPA Plus member, which will give you exclusive access to even more help and resources.
Each PAPA Plus membership makes a huge difference to the cause as it really helps us to improve our services and our awareness campaigns.
Proceeds from memberships and supply allow us to push the cause much further towards raising awareness and improving our services and resources so that we can continue to help more and more parents and children.
Thank you for reading and for your continued support of PAPA and our mission to end parental alienation.
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