One option is to seek legal counsel and file for custody or visitation rights to deal with a toxic co-parent. It can be challenging to do this if you have joint custody of your child, but it is essential to remember that you are not obligated to communicate with someone who is making you feel unsafe. Theyre also more likely to engage in risky behavior like substance abuse. It can be verbal, physical, or emotional. You may also like. If your childs father is harassing you, there are some things that you can do to protect yourself and your child. January 18, 2022. Attorney Shannon Boudreaux at Boudreaux Hunter & Associates, LLC in Houston, TX offers the extensive experience and supportive guidance clients need to get through their divorce or other family matter as favorably as possible. You will have to resist yourself from fighting back and let the attorneys to do their work. If the court thinks it is necessary, the judge may order a restraining order for the childs other parent. It may be tempting to look at your ex-partner or co-parent's social media pages and see what they've been posting, but in a situation like this,that might not be the healthiest thing for you to do. Its purpose is neatly spelled out here, but it can be boiled down very simply in the catch phrase of Divorced Co-Parenting 101: These are often misunderstood and are so very important to clarify in the context of co-parenting arrangements. If he harasses you via text or email, you may try to contact him via the postal method. If you have any kind of documentation to support what you've experienced, this will be worth sharing with your attorney. It doesnt impact me. Here are some more examples of harassment by a co-parent: In short, there is no way to definitively list all the behaviours that could be considered harassment by a co-parent. Make a boundary but dont close the communication for the betterment of your child. You need to stay as neutral as possible, as hard as it may be. This can include stipulations about parent conduct, as well as conflict resolution. When faced with harassment from a childs father, keeping a record of the incidents is essential. Written hundreds of articles on divorce, child custody, employment and other human rights law topics for blogs and websites worldwide. Unfortunately, you will have to do just that if you share children. Set boundaries dont mean closing all door of communication. This will require your co-parent to stay away from you and have no contact with you. This will depend on the severity of the harassment and your ability to prove it. Site Map / Privacy Policy / Disclaimer. It is complicated to do but try not to reply when the father harasses you. Similarly, if a parent regularly denies the other parent time with their child or withholds important information about the childs welfare, that would also be considered harassment. There are certain things about being a parent that really suck. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the judiciary. Watch the below discussion: It can be difficult to deal with a toxic co-parent, but there are some strategies you can use to try to minimise the impact of their toxicity. But, the court may grant your request if the harassment is severe enough and you can prove them. "Custody X Change was a game changer . There is no easy answer to this question, as co-parenting with a narcissist can be challenging. What if I'm receiving harassing messages on TalkingParents? There are many ways that an ex might harass you while youre trying to co-parent. If you have any visitation rights with your children, make sure to exercise them. However, here are ten ways of handling harassment from a co-parent: #1. This can be helpful if you decide to take legal action against the person. Once the harassment is resolved and you feel safe returning to social media, you can simply reactivate when you are ready. Im blessed to have combined my geeky professional self with my passions: awareness of and mental health supports for disenfranchised populations and communities. Its essential to let your attorney know if your co-parent is harassing you with endless texts or phone calls or if he or she is speaking negatively about you or spreading rumors behind your back or on social media. Good luck! Stalking is defined as when a person, on more than one occasion, knowingly engages in conduct that they know the other party will regard as threatening injury to the person or a member of their family, household . If your co-parent seriously threatens you with harm or unacceptable intrusion, protect yourself and call the police. If the harassment is in the form of constant phone calls, you might be able to have the parenting plan set up to utilize only monitored communication so the harassing behavior can be addressed by the court. Indeed, not alone Olivia but many other women from all over the world are facing this problem. If you hear about it from friends, brush it off and encourage them to do the same. Keep in mind, though, that there are some exceptions. Make sure your communication with your co-parent focuses on your child and their needs. Constantly criticizing you, your morals, your value, your intelligence, your looks, your parenting abilities, your family and friends, etc. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. You might also want to consider going without social media yourself for a period of time. It might be backfired on you in the future. Do conflicts in other nations affect your custody order? Threats of taking my daughter..this has been going on for over a year.. 3 police reports..I dont know who to call. Finally, seek out support from friends or family members who can provide understanding and compassion. If you feel overwhelmed by the situation, it may be helpful to seek professional help. If you are being harassed online, do not engage with your harasser. Don't reply with bad words: I know it is so much hard to keep your temper in control when someone repeatedly harasses you. 281-810-9760. It can also occur when a co-parent talks poorly about the other parent, spreading rumors or lies about them behind their back to others. Blocking a parent's access to the kids is blocking the parent's access to the kids whether the parent is the one with primary physical custody or not. Divorce coach Teresa Harlow offers, Dealing with badmouthing coming from a co-parent is tough, and it's crucial that you handle it in a, Copyright 2000 - 2023 OurFamilyWizard.com, If they are sending you mean-spirited messages, don't respond, that might not be the healthiest thing for you to do, Why Documentation Is Crucial in Co-ParentingAnd How to Do It, 5 Tips for Correcting Course When Co-Parenting Feels More Combative Than Collaborative, Dealing with Badmouthing from a Co-Parent. True friends will be able to discern truths from falsehoods. Unfortunately, harassment is common in relationships where one person feels powerless, and the other feels entitled to control. And with modern technology, the proof can be everywhere - from text messages that show profanity and harassment, to emails or facebook posts that show extreme contempt and disregard for the co-parent. However, here are ten ways of handling harassment from a co-parent: It is essential to keep a record of the harassment. You should always consult with an attorney before taking legal action to ensure that it is the best option for your situation. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. In fact, you should talk to your lawyer no matter how serious the harassment is. I wanted to move quickly, and his team made it happen. A co-parenting plan should address: Set firm boundaries: When you first met your narcissist, you likely had few boundaries, and continued to ignore the red flags because you wanted to please him. Parent harassing their child is one of the nastiest things in the world. The actual move from one household to another, whether it happens every few days or just certain weekends, can be a very hard time for children. Here are some things you can try to improve your situation. Set this up so that it reflects the childs best interests, and remember that it can be modified later if necessary. What if someone other than my co-parent is posting messages on their account? Getting a divorce or breaking up with your co-parent can be difficult enough. These people can provide emotional and practical support during this difficult time. Derogatory nicknames. If people are telling you about rumors or lies your ex is spreading, tell them its something youre working out with your ex and be as private as possible. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. While that behavior and those actions may not rise to the level that criminal charges are appropriate, in most jurisdictions, as a part of the divorce action (or custody hearing) there is a set of basic standard parenting clauses that are issued with the final divorce decree or the custody hearing, setting . Threatening the co-parent and initiating and/or escalating conflict with the co-parent are all things that will not impress a judge in a good way. Ban him from all other forms of contact. . You dont have to respond to your baby daddy, but you should. They should not be witnesses to any heated exchanges between you and your co-parent. Document phone calls, drop off times, missed visitations, everything. It may be best to block your co-parent and perhaps stay off social media completely for a time. . There might be legal implications of the harassment so you should make sure that you document whats going on and discuss it with the person helping you with the child custody matters. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'lawyersnlaws_com-medrectangle-1','ezslot_20',177,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-lawyersnlaws_com-medrectangle-1-0');report this ad, boyfriends daughter threatens to ruin their lives, My Husbands Ex Wife Wants Him Back 10 Tips to Deal It, Trauma of Mother Losing Custody of Child: 6 Ways to Cope Up, Can I Call CPS for Parental Alienation? Co-parent harassment occurs when one parent is communicating with the other in a harassing or abusive way. It will help you stay strong during this period. Some states call that crime "battery" others refer to it as "assault.". You have to prove to the court that the harassment you are experiencing affects your ability to parent your child and the childs best interest. Ive worked in marketing strategy in the healthcare and wellness industry since college and my MBA for 20+ years (yikes!!). Under the Texas Penal Code 42.07., harassment is treated as Class B misdemeanor punishable with up to $2,000 fine, up to 180 days in county jail, probation, and a prohibition from having a license to carry a weapon for . Cant meet with us in person? Try to maintain as much communication as possible, using email or text if necessary. Your ex-partners reasoning for doing it is irrelevant. If your co-parent leaves negative, harassing messages, its essential that you dont respond in kind.
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