I watched my brother get surprise served a year ago.

His ex always put the mother in "smother"... and after she moved out taking the three (teenage) girls with her, two of them are now completely brainwashed. He was getting every other weekend... quite often interrupted by some plans the ex made. His older daughter used to be really close with him. Now... she'll hardly speak to him. It's sad to watch - for both my brother and those girls.

I've read sometimes these things backfire.. the kids later resent the parent for alienating them against the other. Either way, it's damage and lost time... and there's a special place in hell for a parent who turns their kids against the other parent.

The kids went to pre-trial mediation last week... the older one came out crying. The ex is asking 100% legal/physical custody. He's asking for a month custody to repair alienation, followed by 50%. We'll see what happens. I hope for luck that the judge/court recognizes what's happening and throws him a chance for a relationship with his daughters...