Mother Loses Custody: Court Rules on Parental Alienation Claims
A mother's battle with family courts over parental alienation claims. Six years after losing custody, she challenges the 'pseudo-science' behind the decision.
A Devastating Turn in July 2020
The concept of parental alienation continues to spark heated debate within the family court system, particularly following recent official guidance in England and Wales that has labeled the theory a 'harmful pseudo-science'. Yet for one mother named Sarah, parental alienation claims became the basis for a devastating family court decision that resulted in the separation from her two daughters over six years ago – a separation that persists to this day.
During the summer of 2020, as coronavirus lockdown restrictions began to ease across England, Sarah's two daughters were preparing for an exciting afternoon out. The girls, then aged nine and six, had been looking forward to attending a paddling-pool party with friends they hadn't seen in months due to pandemic-related isolation. Their mother had recently purchased them matching swimsuits – blue garments decorated with shimmering sequin unicorns – as a special treat for the occasion.
The Shocking Court Call
Three days before the scheduled pool party, Sarah received a telephone call that would change her life forever. Her solicitor delivered news that left her in a state of shock and disbelief. According to court evidence that had been presented, Sarah had been characterized as a
