For years, professionals have written extensively about high-conflict parents, parental alienation, and malicious parent syndrome. Since those earlier discussions, both clinical research and Texas legislation have evolved, providing new guidance and stronger protections for children and parents in high-conflict custody cases. This post updates the topic with the latest practical strategies, research findings, and legal developments in 2025.
Children and Stability After Divorce
Children thrive on stability, security, and the reassurance of parental love—even after separation. Decades of clinical research confirm that it is not whether parents live together, but whether children feel supported and protected by both parents, that matters for long-term well-being. Healthy parenting remains the bedrock of stability for children, whether families live together, apart, or in blended arrangements.
Risks of High-Conflict Divorce
Persistent parental conflict is a major risk factor for children’s emotional health. While most conflict subsides with time, 10–25% of North Texas families (including Frisco, Little Elm, Lewisville, The Colony, Prosper, Savannah, Highland Village, and Flower Mound) experience ongoing discord more than three years after separation. These children are at greater risk for anxiety, academic struggles, social difficulties, and other troubles.
New Texas Laws and Practice Updates (2025)
As of September 2025, Texas courts are prohibited from forcing children into reunification therapy with a rejected parent when credible allegations of abuse exist. Courts cannot remove children from their preferred parent for therapy purposes, nor mandate out-of-state reunification programs or use coercion to force parent-child counseling. Judges increasingly order use of third-party communication platforms (e.g., Our Family Wizard, AppClose), improving accountability and reducing direct parent conflict.
Custody exchanges are now routinely directed to take place at schools, daycares, or other neutral locations—preferably public places equipped with cameras—to help shield children from exposure to adult hostility.
Shared Parenting and Boundaries
Recent research continues to support shared parenting, even for high-conflict families—if parental contact (with one another) is minimized and strictly regulated. Children benefit from relationships with both parents, but direct exposure to adult conflict must be avoided for their mental health. It is no longer considered appropriate to reduce a child’s time with a parent solely because of parental hostility. Instead, reduce interactions between the conflicting parents.
Recognizing Abuse and Alienation
Texas law now explicitly recognizes both parental alienation and family/domestic violence as forms of child abuse, requiring immediate protective intervention. Forced contact or reunification therapy is barred where credible abuse or alienation is present. Therapy orders are only appropriate in cases without credible abuse; otherwise, courts must prioritize children’s mental health, safety, and autonomy.
Practical Steps for North Texas Parents
- Limit direct communication with a high-conflict ex to documented, court-approved platforms.
- Arrange child exchanges at safe, neutral public locations to minimize drama and exposure to conflict.
- Monitor children for signs of emotional distress and seek guidance from mental health professionals familiar with Texas custody law.
- Know your rights under the current Texas Family Code, which is updated regularly by the legislature.
When healthy relationships with both parents aren’t possible, protecting children from unhealthy interactions and ensuring their safety through legal boundaries must remain the top priorities.
Responding to Severe Conflict or Abuse
- Minimize direct contact and always document communication via approved channels.
- Arrange neutral, safe exchanges for your children.
- Consult legal and mental health professionals if you suspect parental alienation or family violence, and seek legal protection immediately.
- Courts, attorneys, and judges in North Texas now have stronger tools and clearer guidance to keep children safe and support healthy relationships—no matter how difficult the circumstances.
Being a child has its challenges. Dealing with warring parents should not be one of them.
Until next time, keep on loving those kids!