What is the legal age that children can choose which parent they want to live with?

Question

I am in Michigan and I would like to change the custody/parenting time for my daughter.

Answer 1

I think at age 12, the court takes the child's opinion into consideration. They still can not "choose"... but the court will listen to them and to what they want to do.

Answer 2

The courts start to consider the child's wishes around the age of 12, however until they are 16, the kids don't get to decide. It's the normal evaluation of what is the best interest of the child that makes the decision. So although your daughter may not like what you are trying to do, if you are the parent with placement, it's up to you to make the decisions for her. I would advise hearing her out though and reaching some sort of a compromise everyone can live with. It may be hard, but when families can do this, it goes so much easier. I wish you well.

Answer 3

18

Answer 4

Well, worried mom, I do not know what the legal age that children can choose in MI. Different states have different ideas, along with different judges. In the state of OH, the judge decides if the child is of age to decide where he or she lives. This judge decides as whether the child has his or her best interest when making their decision. The child wishes are heavily weighted to where they are wanting to go, but a judge is suppose to take in consideration where they go to. Good Luck!

Answer 5

I don't think they ever get the final say, they are just allowed to offer and opinion. That opinion is taken for what it is, a childs opinion viewing life from a childs point of view. The majority of the decision is still based on other factors. I think the usual age is 13 when they can be heard but its not the deciding factor. Kids don't understand enough about the issues of life to make decisions that big, they make them based on things like who lets them get away with more and who lets them stay up later or go to the mall with their friends those things are not a good basis for deciding such important issues and the courts realize that (hopefully).

Answer 6

on the age of sixteen you will get criminal rights to be your individual father or mom and do away with ur mom, for sturdy, yet it rather is an rather permanate answer, you may desire to easily communicate w/ ur mom, and if your mom disagrees, have your dad check along with her, yet legally i think of it rather is sixteen, plus then in case you have a vehicle in basic terms choose for it andcontinual... i'm 14 and that i decide on the place I stay cuz i'm an enormously defiant individual, you're able to do exactly what you like, and pass away yet that would reason some issues yet i think of legally ifyou pass to court docket it rather is 12 or 13

Answer 7

ANY child under 18 in ANY state is governed by a family court judge.Children under 18 DO NOT decide who they will live with.

I've posted this a thousand times!

Answer 8

I think the child's wishes should be taken into consideration at any age, unless of course, the child is an infant or toddler. If the child says, I want to be with mommy or daddy, then why wouldn't that be taken into consideration.

Answer 9

Contact Michigan's Children's Protective Services department, and ask them your question. You may have to request a hearing, if your children are too young.

Answer 10

I thought it was 12 or 13.