When There’s No Abuse, But You Still Lose Your Child: How Family Courts Are Erasing Fit, Protective Parents Without Cause

When There’s No Abuse, But You Still Lose Your Child: How Family Courts Are Erasing Fit, Protective Parents Without Cause

Across the globe, family courts are under scrutiny for ignoring domestic violence and labeling “protective” parents as “alienators.” But in some jurisdictions, especially in places like South Carolina, a different tragedy is unfolding.

Fit, loving, non-abusive parents are being erased from their children’s lives, even when there are no allegations of abuse.

No domestic violence.

No neglect.

No findings of unfitness.

Just, gone.

In these cases, there’s no DSS investigation. No restraining order. No criminal charges. No official finding of danger. Yet the non-custodial parent is gradually eliminated through a mix of:

Delayed or sabotaged therapy,

GAL interference,

Contradictory court orders,

Reunification roadblocks,

And finally, complete silence.

Safe, consistent, and loving parents are kept from their children even after complying with every court order, sometimes for years. They attend therapy sessions without incident. Therapists document safe, positive interaction. Children express a desire to see the parent outside of therapy. Still, the visits never come.

In many cases, just as trust begins to rebuild, therapy is abruptly terminated. Later, this is spun as “regression” to justify further delays or total cutoff.

Court-ordered time is denied with no accountability. Professionals reshape the story to justify what already happened, after the fact.

The Parental Alienation Narrative Is Being Weaponized in Reverse

When the alienation doesn’t follow the usual script, when it’s the noncustodial parent being erased, or the custodial parent exerting control, suddenly:

Alienation is “not real.”

Concerns are dismissed as conflict.

Professionals defer to the child’s “voice,” even when that voice has clearly been shaped, pressured, or coached.

Licensed experts who validate the rejected parent are ignored. Children’s positive experiences are silenced. Therapists with no license are allowed to control access. GALs act as de facto judges.

And fit parents are told:

“The child isn’t ready. We need more time. Let’s wait and see.”

Even as months become years. Even as the child asks, off the record, to see their parent.

This Is Not “High Conflict.” This Is Systemic Neglect.

Let’s be clear:

This is not about two parents who can’t get along.

This is about a court-enabled process that strips a child of a fit, loving parent, without due process, without findings, and without accountability.

The uncomfortable truth?

The system isn’t protecting children.

It’s protecting itself.

Family courts must be required to:

Provide clear, evidence-based standards before restricting parenting time,

Uphold due process before denying contact,

Require proper licensure for all therapists involved in court-ordered treatment,

And stop deferring parental rights and mental health to GALs and professionals acting outside their legal scope.

Until that happens, children will continue to grow up without one of the people who loves them, not because of what that parent did, but because of what they didn’t:

Play the game.