At what age does a child have a legal right to decide which parent they wish to be with?

Question

I have a 14 year old child that I split custody with, she states that she has the legal right to decide at 14 which parent she chooses to be with and for how long. Can you tell me what the age is that the courts allow a child to make this decision.

Answer 1

Please Note those answers.
While most didn't point it out, your child has no legal right to choose.
She and the other parent have the right to petition the court.
And the court will take into account her desires. But it is not a sure thing.

If you are the custodial parent then you have custody until she reaches legal age, gets emancipated or unless the courts change her situation.

Answer 2

Yes in 35 out of 50 states at 14 she has the legal right in court to stand up to the judge and say which parent she wants to live with. Does not mean though the judge will decide it is the best place for her to be until she is 16. It just means she has the right to voice her oppion to the judge. At 16 she can choose where ever she wants to live without consent from a judge or a parent.

Answer 3

Check your state law. In some states a judge decided if the child is mature enough to make that decision. Some kids will grab for the first shiny thing before they realize there's a hook in it.

Answer 4

Your child is right. He/she does have to the right to choose parents at 14 years of age.

Answer 5

It depends which states you live; in South Carolina, the age is 13. At 13 years old, a child can tell the judge who they want to live with, mom or dad.

Answer 6

depends on what state ya live in, some courts will listen to what the child wants at 11 years old

Answer 7

its like around 13 or 14 but only if the child is mature enough a judge asked me at 13 if who I wanted to live with , I picked my mom because she had the bigger house a brand new car and all the money LOL!!!! plus she never had to work again with all her settlement money so she could always bring me lunch at skool +plus she was so much nicer than my dad and I am glad I made the desiscion to stay with her now that I look back on it

Answer 8

The law may be different in different states but in Calif the age is 13.

Answer 9

The regulations are diverse in each and every state. yet in many situations the decide will talk with the youngster to work out how mature they are approximately what they want & circulate by making use of the situation in the different enjoyed ones.

Answer 10

The courts do not allow her to decide but they take her choice into serious consideration