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Can 12 year old decide parent they want live?
Although the law specifically permits children at least 14-years-old to express an opinion, there is no specific age when a judge will listen to a child’s opinion. California statutes also permit a child younger than 14 years old to testify regarding a custodial preference, unless the court decides it’s not in the …
Can you choose who to live with if your parents are divorced?
It is a common misconception that a child that reaches a certain age can decide which parent to live with after a divorce or separation. The fact is until the child is 18, the only individuals who can determine custody are the child’s parents, and if the parents can’t decide, a judge will.
Can 14 year old decide parent live?
A child under 14 also gets to address the court if it’s in their best interest. A child 14 or older has the right to select which parent they live with, unless a judge finds the selected parent does not serve the child’s best interests. If the child is 14 or older, the court considers their desires.
At what age can a child decide to not see a parent?
Legally, Your Child Can Refuse Visitation at Age 18.
Can a child choose which parent to live with after a divorce?
Many years ago, a child’s right to choose which parent to live with after a divorce was limited. It wasn’t until the passage of Family Code Section 3042 in 1992 that a child’s rights to decide which parent to live with were clearly defined. So, Can Your Child Choose Which Parent They Live With?
Can a 12 year old decide which parent to live with?
These folks “hear” that if a child is 12 (or 13 or 14 or 15…), the child has the right to make the final decision as to with whom the child wishes to stay. The simple fact is that a child’s age has very little to do with it and Pennsylvania law does not recognize any particular age as allowing a child to automatically decide.
How does age affect a child’s decision to live with one parent?
The age at which a judge weighs a child’s desire for living with one parent over the other depends more on maturity than chronological age. Because parents may manipulate a younger child more easily than an older child, judges may not give as much weight to a younger child’s preferences.
How old do children have to be to decide custody?
Overall, the older a child is, the more impact their wishes have on their custody case. If your child is at least 14, a judge in any state is likely to hear what they have to say.