Child Custody, Parental Alienation, and High Net Worth Divorce 

 Posted on February 28, 2025 in Divorce

One of the most challenging aspects of divorce when young children are involved is determining custody of those children. Because of the public scrutiny and significant assets at stake in high net worth divorces, this type of divorce is often high-conflict, especially when it comes to child custody matters.

When the divorce is high-conflict, child custody can become a tool to punish or exert control, or to "win" the divorce proceedings. One parent may also use parental alienation as a tool to manipulate children against the other parent. Those facing these legally and emotionally complex considerations in a high net worth divorce can benefit from the advice of a Milwaukee, Wisconsin divorce attorney.

Parental Alienation and High Net Worth Divorce

What Is Parental Alienation?

Parental alienation occurs when one parent intentionally and consistently attempts to manipulate or influence a child against the other parent. Parental alienation is not only difficult and painful for the parent affected by the child’s change in behavior, but can also emotionally damage a child and may be considered a form of child abuse (although it is not illegal).

Although many divorcing parents do not think about each other kindly, to say the least, parental alienation takes that hostility to the next level. The children essentially become one parent’s weapon for getting revenge on the other parent.

Warning signs of parental alienation include the child consistently expressing negative views about the targeted parent, repeating the alienating parent’s negative views, and refusing to spend time with the targeted parent. These warning signs are especially significant when the child is very young.

What Does Parental Alienation Look Like? 

• Disparagement: Parental alienation occurs when one parent disparages the other in front of the child behind the other parent’s back, such as by insulting or speaking badly of the other parent or blaming the other parent for the separation.

• Undermining authority: Another sign of parental alienation is when a parent undermines the other’s authority, manipulating the child into believing the other parent does everything the "wrong" way.

• Parental substitution: This occurs when the parent attempts to make the child believe that another adult figure is their parental figure when that is not the case.

• Parentification: The alienating parent involves a child in decisions or behaviors that are above and beyond their age or maturity, such as discussing very sensitive elements of the parents’ relationship breakdown with a child.

How Do High Net-Worth Divorces Encourage Parental Alienation?

Unfortunately, the unique circumstances of a couple with a high net worth can increase the chances of the use of parental alienation as a tool. This is due to the significant additional financial assets at stake, a common desire by both parties to maintain a certain lifestyle or image, and the scrutiny that can come from the outside world. All may contribute to motivations for using the children as tools to gain more financial or reputational leverage.

A spouse in a high net-worth divorce may attempt to use parental alienation as a tool to obtain a more favorable custody arrangement or control of financial resources. The potential reputational harm of losing custody or of an older child publicly badmouthing a parent can also lead to the use of parental alienation as a tool to try to hurt the other parent’s reputation.

Further, sometimes high-income spouses use their income as a weapon. For example, a high-powered spouse with greater financial means who may not have been very involved in their child’s life may suddenly take a renewed interest in the child and utilize their significant resources to "bribe" the child into alienating the other parent.

What Can Parents in a High Net Worth Divorce Do About Parental Alienation?

If you see signs of parental alienation, it is important to take action as quickly as possible to protect the child. Keep detailed logs of possible instances of parental alienation.

This is important because, even though parental alienation is not illegal, courts take it very seriously. Wisconsin courts look unfavorably on parental alienation as it harms the interests of the child, and it is possible to request a modification of custody arrangements because parental alienation is happening.

In short: When a parent acts in a way that harms a child’s relationship with her other parent, that can impact custody decisions and parents who believe they are targets of parental alienation should take prompt action.

Why Is a High Net Worth Divorce More Difficult for Kids?

High net-worth families often are subject to media coverage and the public eye. If details about the divorce become public, this can complicate not only the emotional weight of the divorce but the spouses’ strategies for managing their own reputations and careers. In high-conflict divorces, a high-net-worth spouse might use the threat of exposure to public scrutiny to obtain a more favorable settlement.

Kids often deal with their parents’ divorce and resultant exposure in ways that are not healthy for them. This is especially true in an era where children have 24/7 access to a wide audience on social media and often say things without carefully thinking through the implications.

Children of high-net-worth divorces may also have parents with demanding careers who are less available to respond to the children’s emotional needs. If one parent moves as a result of the divorce, children may have to relocate to another home, including new household staff the children may not be familiar with, such as nannies and tutors.

All of this can be very challenging for children and their parents. Having the help of an experienced attorney with strong connections to other family-oriented professionals, such as therapists and divorce coaches, can make managing these parts of a high-net-worth divorce much easier.

Call a Milwaukee, WI Divorce Attorney

High net-worth individuals getting divorced face a more complex and difficult process thanks to the complex resources and public scrutiny. That is why it is so important to get legal help from the experienced Milwaukee, WI family law attorneys at Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP.

Our firm has the experience and discretion to handle high net worth divorces with the care and service they deserve. Call our offices today at 414-271-1440 for a consultation.